Super Sellers from Fall Product Sale

I want to send a shout-out to all of our AMAZING Super Sellers! This year, we had 53 girls who sold $500+ worth of Fall Product. WOW! The following girls are this year's Super Sellers: Alice, Alison, Alison, Alyse, Alyssa, Amanda, Amber, Anna, Autumn, Brandy, Brooke, Cassy, Caydence, Cherokee, Delaney, Elena, Emily, Emily, Emma, Emma, Grace, Greenlee, Hallie, Hannah, Jamie, Jasmine, Jessica, Jordan, Kaitlyn, Katelon, Katelyn, Keanna, Krista, Lane, Lexi, Linnea, Madeline, Madison, Madison, Marissa, Megan, Morgan, Natalee, Olivia, Olivia, Rachel, Rachel, Riley, Riley, Sonja, Stephanie, Sydney, Victoria & Zoe. Way to go, girls!

Leftover Fall Product = Awesome opportunity for Girl Scouts!

GSMISTS has leftover Fall Product from booth sales available for troops and individual girls. Pick up product from any GSMISTS Service Center and your troop can earn a profit of $2 per can! You heard that right.... $2 per can goes back to your troop! Feel free to set up your own booth sale or purchase product for upcoming holiday gifts. Contact myself or your nearest Retail & Product Sales Manager to take advantage of this special offer!

Grand Rapids Fall Booth Sale Opportunity

We have an excellent opportunity for a Fall Booth Sale next week. The Seidman Center at 139 Crofton SE, GR 49507 (Boys & Girls Club) is allowing troops to sell onsite 11 AM-5 PM, Monday-Wednesday, Dec.19-21. GSMISTS has already sent over a special flyer that will go home to parents about the sale.

Since booth sales are done- we are offering troops a special kickback of $2 per can of whatever is sold! You heard that right--- troops receive $2 for each can of nuts/candy that they sell! If your troop is looking to earn money- please contact me asap as these spots will go quickly.

If your troop is available over the holiday break for these days- contact me at: tmyers@gsmists.org or call 616-784-3341 x 142.

Fall Booth Sales extended

Are you still looking for some quick money for your troop? It's not too late to participate in a Fall Booth Sale! Even if your troop has not participated in selling fall product- you can do a Fall Booth and it's SO EASY.

We provide the nuts/candy to sell and whatever product you don't sell- you can return it back to GSMISTS.

Booths were set to end on December 4 but we are extending it until December 11.

3 easy steps to a Fall Booth Sale:
1. Pick your location (think cookie booth locations). Examples: grocery stores, malls, retail/sporting goods stores, banks, walgreens, schools, etc.

2. Contact your nearest Retail & Product Sales Manager to arrange pick up of product.

3. Return whatever doesn't sell back to the Service Center. Keep out your proceeds and give us the rest.

It's that easy!

Happy Thanksgiving, Girl Scouts!

What are your Thanksgiving traditions? My husband and I go to my parent's house each year. My sisters and their husbands are there, along with my nieces, nephews and Grandmas. We eat a big meal and then play games. I make the pies. This year, I am making: pumpkin, sticky toffee apple pudding pie and Butterfinger pie. Yum!

I hope you enjoy your own family traditions and remember what Thanksgiving is all about ~ being thankful!

I am so thankful for all of you who volunteer for Girl Scouts. We couldn't do our jobs without you! Thanks so much for caring about girls and investing in their lives. I look forward to working with all of you throughout this next cookie season! Thank you so much for all your help with our Fall sale too.

Happy Thanksgiving, to all of you from GSMISTS!

Alpena area Cookie Kickoffs Dates and details

Alpena area troops will be holding their Cookie Kick-off on January 21st from 1-4 pm during their skating time at the Hillman Community Center. This way the girls can come and go between the activities and skating. They will also hold another Cookie Kick-off for all other troops on February 4th from 1 - 4 pm so all troops in the area have a chance to have a Cookie Kick-off.

There is no fee to attend the actual kickoff. The cost to rollerskate is $5.

Pam Kotzian @ (989)742-4522 is the person to contact regarding registering for the skating portion. 200 girls can skate.

Any other questions can be emailed to AlpenaGirlScouts@aol Cindy Ranshaw or call (989)464-2619 Evonne Jasman.

NOTE: Is your Service Unit holding a super exciting Cookie Kickoff? Please let me know and I will be happy to advertise this on my blog!! Remember- you can attend a council sponsored kickoff AND host your own too!

2012 Cookie Sale Program Calendar

NOVEMBER 16-17, 2011: COOKIE TRAINING FOR FACILITATORS• Nov. 16, 10 am-12 pm @ Muskegon Service Center
• Nov. 16, 6-8 pm @ Grand Rapids Service Center
• Nov. 17, 6-8 pm @ Traverse City Service Center

NOVEMBER 22-DECEMBER 9, 2011: COOKIE TRAINING FOR SERVICE UNIT PRODUCT MANAGERS (Register through ebiz or fill out a council event registration form )
• Mon., Nov. 21, 6-8 pm
Traverse City – Traverse City Service Center, 1820 Oak Hollow Dr.

• Tues. Nov. 22, 6-8 pm
Gaylord - First Congregational Church, 218 West 2nd Street

• Mon. Nov. 28, 9:30-11:30 am
Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Service Center, 3275 Walker Ave NW

• Mon., Nov. 28, 6-8 pm
Muskegon – Muskegon Service Center, 1217 E. River Rd.

• Tues. Nov. 29, 6:30-8:30 pm
Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Service Center, 3275 Walker Ave NW

• Wed. Nov. 30, 6:30-8:30 pm
Big Rapids – Big Rapids - United Church, 110 State St.

• Thurs., Dec. 1, 6-8 pm
Alpena- Alpena Girl Scout Office, 135 N. State Street
Zeeland – Cityside Middle School , 320 East Main

• Fri., Dec. 2, 6:30-8:30 pm
Muskegon – Muskegon Service Center, 1217 E. River Rd.

• Sat., Dec. 3, 10 AM-12 PM
Ludington- Ludington Little House, 1024 Olmstead St
Charlevoix- Charlevoix Library

• Mon., Dec. 5, 6:30-8:30 pm
Ionia - Ionia Intermediate School District, 2191 Harwood Rd.

• Tues., Dec. 6, 6:30-8:30 pm
Onaway - Onaway Methodist Church, 3647 North Lynn

• Thurs., Dec. 8, 6:30-8:30 pm
Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Service Center, 3275 Walker Ave NW

• Sat., Dec. 10, 10 am-12 pm
Cadillac - Cadillac Senior Center, 601 Chestnut Street, Cadillac.

JANUARY 7 & 14, 2012: COOKIE KICKOFF PARTIESCookie Kickoffs are fun and interactive parties where girls can come and learn all about the cookie sale. You may attend as a troop or with your family. Open to girls in troops or other pathways - basically, any girl who will be selling cookies. You have 3 options to choose from…

*Come sample the new cookie, Savannah Smiles!

January 7 –
Traverse City- Traverse City Civic Center1213 W. Civic Center Dr
Come anytime between 10 AM-noon and go through our stations.
Ice skating will be available 12:30-1:30 PM. (RSVP is a must for to reserve your ice skating spot. Open to the 1st 100 people.) $2 per girl to ice skate.

January 14-
Grand Rapids – Celebration Cinemas South (held in the lobby), 9 AM-11 AM
1506 Eastport Drive SE, Grand Rapids
Come anytime between 9 AM and 11 AM and go through our stations. Afterward, you can pay just $5.50 for a movie ticket and we will have free popcorn available.

Muskegon- Sherman Bowling Center, 10 AM-12 PM
1531 W Sherman Blvd, Muskegon
Come anytime between 10 AM-12 PM and go through our stations. Afterward, you can pay just $2.50 for bowling shoes and 1 game!

You must RSVP to reserve your spot at one of these spectacular events! To RSVP please email: tmyers@gsmists.org or your nearest Retail & Product Sales Manager (Jered Michael, Sally Ellis, Deb Lang). Put Cookie Kickoff RSVP in the subject line. Please indicate the following in the body of the email:

• Which Cookie Kickoff you will be attending
• How many people will be attending
• Name, Troop #

You must bring a copy of the following forms with you to the Kickoffs:1. Parent permission form
2. Girl & Adult Health history form (needed for both adults and girls)
(forms are available at: http://www.gsmists.org/Get-Involved/resources)

JANUARY 20, 2012: COOKIE SALES BEGIN!

JANUARY 24-26, 2012: OPTIONAL OPEN eBUDDE TRAINING with JERED MICHAEL

• Tues., Jan. 24 – Muskegon Service Center, 6-7 PM
• Wed., Jan. 25- Grand Rapids Service Center, 6-7 PM
• Thurs., Jan. 26- Traverse City Service Center, 6-7 PM

You must RSVP 3 days prior to training. To RSVP please email jmichael@gsmists.org. Put eBudde Training RSVP in the subject line. You may also call 616-784-3341 x 124.

FEBRUARY 17, 2012: INITIAL ORDERS DUE TO TROOPS
FEBRUARY 22, 2012: ORDERS DUE TO SERVICE UNITS
FEBRUARY 27, 2012: ORDERS DUE TO COUNCIL
MARCH 17-18, 2012: COMMUNITY COOKIE BOOTH WEEKEND!
MARCH 19-23, 2012: DELIVERY FOR INITIAL ORDERS
MARCH 23, 2012: BOOTH SALES BEGIN
MARCH 29, 2012: OPTIONAL EARLY BANK ACCOUNT SWEEP FOR INITIAL ORDER
APRIL 5, 2012: BANK ACCOUNT SWEEP FOR INITIAL ORDER
APRIL 15, 2012: LAST DAY TO SUBMIT INCENTIVES
APRIL 15, 2011: BOOTH SALES END
APRIL 15, 2012: COOKIE SALES END

It's not too late to participate in the Fall Sale

If your troop hasn't participated in the Fall Sale- it's not too late to earn that start-up money. In fact, there are several EASY options to choose from. You can pick one or do all options!

1. Mail-in address booklets ~ fill in 11 addresses for family and friends. $2 is automatically given for every girl who does this!

2. Online orders- takes 10 minutes! Provide 12 email addresses of family and friends to purchase magazines online.

3. Take a nut/candy/magazine order card around to family and friends.

**NEW- no matter which way you choose to participate- you will receive a BONUS of $1 per girl in your troop! Service Units earn $.50 per girl.

Alpena Girl Scouts are AWESOME!

I had the pleasure of meeting Girl Scouts in Alpena on Tuesday. They had a Girl Scout Rededication and Parade of Flags in honor of United Nations Day. Afterward, I trained the troop to participate in a brand new program for our Fall Sale- Creative Funding Opportunity, (CFO Program). The older girls will market high quality nuts and candy to businesses. They develop their own business plan from making business cards, developing a marketing plan and presentation skills. The girls were very enthusiastic about the program!

I was so impressed with the troops in Alpena. They have a lot going on! This Sunday, Girl Scouts are celebrating Juliette Lowe's birthday with a big Birthday party; complete with halloween costumes, cupcake decorating, crafts, singing and games. Throughout the year, they have everything planned from scavenger hunts, a bowling party to a Pink Breast Cancer awareness walk in honor of Juiliette Low.

Way to go, girls! I know you will have another wonderful year!

Check out the link about the CFO Fall Product Sale!

http://www.hilarytopper.com/2011/10/help-girl-scouts-of-nassau-county-by-saying-thank-you-to-your-customers/#.Tp2tPv0MB3U.facebook

happy 1st DAY OF FALL SALE!

October 17th has arrived!! Are you selling? Today is the 1st day and it's not too late! Contact myself or your nearest Retail & Product Sales Manager and start selling today! It's a great way to earn start-up money for your troop. Individual girls can sell as well. Give us a call!

To celebrate the 1st day of our sale- we have a fun deal for all of you Girl Scouts! The Grand Rapids Ballet presents: Johnny Starfish & Friends. This program is a great way to introduce the young and young at heart to ballet! Three short stories are featured on the show: The Aquatic Adventures of Johnny Starfish & the Mermaids, Peter & the Wolf and Fairy Doll.

Special offer for Girl Scout Families: All tickets just $10. Call the Ballet at 616.454.4771, ext. 10, and mention you are a Girl Scout family to take advantage of this offer.Two performances to choose from: November 5 at 2:00 & 7:30 at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center.

More info about the show can be found at grballet.com

Limited Edition 100th Anniversary Girl Scout Tin

Get your Limited Edition 100th Anniversary Girl Scout tin during this year’s Fall product Sale. Each tin is just $8 and is filled with dark chocolate pretzels. They make great gifts and are sure to be a collector’s item. You’ll want to buy three...one to save, one to give and one to use.

26 Great Uses for the 100th Anniversary Tin

1. Lunch Box
2. Girl Scout Memento Box
3. Teacher Gifts
4. First Aid Kit
5. Volunteer Gifts
6. Gift Box for Holidays/Birthdays
7. School Supply Box
8. SWAPS Box
9. Piggy Bank
10. Photos
11. Jewelry Box
12. Accessories (hair bows, clips)
13. Purse
14. Collector’s Item
15. Time Capsule
16. Recipe Box
17. Camping/Survival Kit
18. Tool Box
19. Tackle Box
20. Grow a Garden
21. Flower Arrangement
22. Store cookie cutters or other small kitchen items
23. Store small toys
24. Keep your secrets (Journal,Diaries,notes to/from friends)
25. Dream Box—write your dreams and keep them in the box
26. Store games/cards

How will you use yours? Share your ideas on Facebook.
Like us at ‘Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore’

New this year: Fall Booth Sales!

Troops may organize Nuts/Candy Booths at locations of their choice, Nov. 14-Dec. 4. Just contact your Retail & Product Sales Manager. You can arrange for pickup of the product at the Service Center. For remote locations, your Product Sales Manager will work with you to receive product. You will sign out the product and return whatever doesn’t sell. It’s easy and of no additional cost to you!

Location ideas:
 Local sports events
 School functions – homecoming games, open houses, school conferences, music
concerts, etc.
 Local festivals – harvest festivals, holiday parades, etc.
 Hunting retail businesses – great for those deer hunters!
 Churches
 Grocery stores
 Quick oil change business

50 reasons to sell Fall Product!

1. Earn money for fun trips, community service projects, council sponsored
events & activities, cool Girl Scout items in our shop and more!
2. The Girl Scout 100th Anniversary tin is AWESOME!
3. You can get one of your parents to buy you that magazine subscription you’ve
been dying to have
4. With 15 yummy snacks, your holiday gift buying will be taken care of!
5. You can earn cool peace sign lights to decorate your bedroom!
(and other great incentives!)
6. The white arctic fox stuffed animal is so cute this year!
7. The Super Seller restaurant dinner is a blast!
8. Fall Gift of Caring ~ help troops overseas and Helen Devos Children’s
Hospital
9. New Caramel Treasures ~ creamy caramel centers covered in smooth milk
chocolate.
10. New Blueberry Pomegranate Nut Crunch ~ tasty squares of almonds, cashews,
pistachios, blueberries and pomegranate.
11. New Sugar free Chocolate Truffles ~ rich and creamy truffles that do not
taste sugar free!
12. New Value Three-Pack ~ honey roasted cashews, spicy peanuts and wasabi
almonds
13. New Butter Toasted Peanuts ~ lightly toasted peanuts with a buttery flavor
14. Buy your favorite teacher the new School House Tin with mint meltaways inside
15. Participate in the 1st ever Fall Booth Sales!
16. Troops earn $1 for every girl who participates in the sale
17. Service units earn $.50 for every girl who participates in the sale
18. The top selling troop will receive a pizza party at Craigs Cruisers!
(troop with greatest percentage increase from last year)
19. Our Fall Kickoff Open House parties are going to be SUPER FUN!
20. It’s SO EASY to participate!
21. The Hairy Pink pen is so cool
22. The Fall Sale patches are fun and all fit together
23. Incentives are cumulative!
24. Troops earn 10% of their combined dollars sold
25. Troops earn $2 for every completed QSP address booklet (at least do that!)
26. The online learning activities are tons of fun
27. Chocolate covered raisins
28. Fruit Slices (you know you love them!)
29. Meet new people while selling
30. You can make a checklist and track your progress
31. Have fun celebrating your accomplishments when you reach your goal
32. Double dipped peanuts
33. Chocolate covered almonds
34. The joy of reading new magazines
35. Peanut butter dreams
36. Pecan clusters
37. Hot Cajun crunch
38. Take just 10 minutes to enter 12 email addresses- it’s that simple!
39. Selling is tons of fun!
40. You are learning valuable business skills
41. It’s part of Girl Scouting- building courage, confidence and character!
42. Over 600 magazine items to choose from
43. Benefits of the magazine online program: people receive subscriptions
faster, no need to collect money, all major credit cards accepted
44. Over 60 children’s and teen magazines!
45. Your grandma renews her subscription anyway- why not have it benefit Girl
Scouts?
46. Girl Scout camp was a blast last year and you want to start earning money to
go again this summer
47. Your troop can work together decorating your booth with cool posters
48. Investing in Today = Success for Tomorrow! (this year’s theme)
49. Your troop can start out the year on the right foot by earning start up
money
50. You get to work with great Retail & Product Sales Managers at Council!

Buy 1 ticket get 1 free to Grand Rapids Ballet's production!

The Grand Rapids Ballet would like to invite Girl Scouts to our opening production at a buy one get one free offer. We open our 40th Anniversary season with Company B this weekend - a show packed with renowned choreography and great music!

The Company B program features:
* Paul Taylor's exuberant Company B, to the music of The Andrews Sisters
* George Balanchine's sublime Serenade, to the music of Tchaikovsky
* Joseph Hassreiter's delightful Fairy Doll pas de trois, to the music of Josef Bayer
* One of three bravura pas de deux works by Marius Petipa: Diana & Actaeon, Don Quixote or Swan Lake

All of this on one incredible season-opening production!

Friday, September 16 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 18 at 2:00 pm
Friday, September 23 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 24 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 25 at 2:00 pm

Performances are held in the intimate Peter Martin Wege Theatre, on the corner of Wealthy and Grandville, just west of US-131. More information about the performance, as well as a sneak peek at rehearsal and interview with Paul Taylor repetiteur Julie Tice, is available at grballet.com.

Special offer for Girl Scouts:
Call the Ballet Box Office at 616.454.4771 ext. 10, and mention you are a Girl Scout family and you will receive one free ticket for each ticket purchased at regular price ($35).

Fall Training date/locations for SERVICE UNIT PRODUCT MANAGERS

SEPTEMBER 12 – 23, 2011:
FALL TRAINING FOR SERVICE UNIT PRODUCT MANAGERS

Monday, Sept. 12, Alpena Girl Scout Office, 6-8 PM
Harborside Mall, corner of State St.& Chisholm Alpena, MI 49707

Monday, Sept. 12, Muskegon Service Center, 9-11 AM

Wednesday, Sept. 14, Muskegon Service Center, 6:30-8:30 PM

Wednesday, Sept. 14, Ionia Intermediate School District, 6:30-8:30 PM
2191 Harwood Road, Ionia, MI 48846

Thursday, Sept. 15, Charlevoix TBA, 6-8 PM

Thursday, Sept. 15, Grand Rapids Service Center, 6:30-8:30 PM

Thursday, Sept. 15, Ludington Little House, 6:30-8:30 PM
1024 Olmsted St, Ludington, MI 49431

Thursday, Sept. 15, Traverse City Service Center, 6:30-8:30 PM

Saturday, Sept. 17, Manton United Methodist Church, 9-11 AM
102 North Michigan Ave, Manton, MI

Tuesday, Sept. 20, Otsego County Library, 6-8 PM
700 South Otsego Ave, Gaylord ,MI 49725

Tuesday, Sept. 20, Grand Rapids Service Center, 6:30-8:30 PM

Tuesday, Sept. 20, Onaway TBA

Wednesday, Sept. 21, Grand Rapids Service Center, 9:30-11:30 AM

Thursday, Sept. 22, United Church of Big Rapids, 6:30-8:30 PM
120 South State Street, Big Rapids, MI 49307-1799

SEPTEMBER 23 – October 15, 2011: FALL TRAINING FOR TROOP LEADERS & VOLUNTEERS (scheduled and done by Service Unit Product Managers)

Important Fall Sale Dates

Fall Sale Program Calendar

SEPTEMBER 12 – 23, 2011: FALL TRAINING FOR SERVICE UNIT PRODUCT MANAGERS(dates/locations TBA)

SEPTEMBER 23 – October 15, 2011: FALL TRAINING FOR TROOP LEADERS & VOLUNTEERS (done by Service Unit Product Managers)

October 4-6, 2011: FALL KICKOFF PARTIES Fall Kickoffs are fun and interactive parties where girls can come and learn about selling Fall Product. You may attend as a troop or with your family. Open to girls in troops or other pathways - basically, any girl who will be selling nuts, candy and magazine subscriptions.

• Oct. 4, come anytime between 4 & 7 PM @ Muskegon Service Center
• Oct. 5, come anytime between 4 & 7 PM @ Grand Rapids Service Center
• Oct. 6, come anytime between 4 & 7 PM @ Traverse City Service Center


RSVP encouraged to reserve your spot at one of these spectacular events! To RSVP please email your nearest Product Sales Manager or you may email tmyers@gsmists.org. Put Fall Kickoff RSVP in the subject line. Please indicate the following in the body of the email:

• Which Fall Kickoff you will be attending
• How many people will be attending
• Name, Troop #/ SU # (if applicable)

October 4-6, 2011: CFO PROGRAM TRAINING (open to Cadette-Ambassadors)

• Oct. 4, 7-8 PM @ Muskegon Service Center
• Oct. 5, 7-8 PM @ Grand Rapids Service Center
• Oct. 6, 7-8 PM @ Traverse City Service Center

OCTOBER 17, 2011: FALL SALE BEGINS!

OCTOBER 17-NOVEMBER 7, 2011: Order taking with payment collection in advance for nut products

NOVEMBER 9, 2011: ORDERS & PAYMENTS DUE TO TROOPS

NOVEMBER 11, 2011: ORDERS & PAYMENTS DUE TO SERVICE UNIT PRODUCT MANAGERS FROM TROOPS

NOVEMBER 14-DECEMBER 4, 2011: OPTIONAL BOOTH SALES

NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 2, 2011: DELIVERY TO SERVICE UNIT PRODUCT MANAGERS

Mark your calendars - FALL KICKOFF PRODUCT OPEN HOUSE!

SAVE THE DATE!
Please join us for our 1st ever FALL KICKOFF EVENT!

October 4-6, 2011: FALL KICKOFF PARTIES.

Fall Kickoffs are fun and interactive parties where girls can come and learn about selling Fall Product. You may attend as a troop or with your family. Open to girls in troops or other pathways - basically, any girl who will be selling nuts, candy and magazine subscriptions.

Girls- Join us at 1 of our 3 Service Centers and learn everything about the Fall Sale! You may attend with your troop or family.
Come for:
*Product Tasting
*Incentives Preview
*Goal setting & developing entrepreneurial skills
*Connecting with other girls in Girl Scouts!
& much, much more!

*Every girl who attends can enter a drawing for: Celebration Cinema movie tickets, Grand Rapids Ballet’s Nutcracker tickets & Johnny Starfish & Friends tickets as well as Civic Theatre’s Wizard of Oz tickets (Grand Rapids & Muskegon locations.) Grand Traverse Cinemas & State Theatre movie tickets, City Opera House SkippyJon Jones tickets (Traverse City) + other Girl Scout prizes!

• Oct. 4, come anytime between 4 & 7 PM @ Muskegon Service Center
• Oct. 5, come anytime between 4 & 7 PM @ Grand Rapids Service Center
• Oct. 6, come anytime between 4 & 7 PM @ Traverse City Service Center


RSVP encouraged to reserve your spot at one of these spectacular events! To RSVP please email your nearest Product Sales Manager or you may email tmyers@gsmists.org. Put Fall Kickoff RSVP in the subject line. Please indicate the following in the body of the email:
• Which Fall Kickoff you will be attending
• How many people will be attending
• Name, Troop #/ SU # (if applicable)

********OCTOBER 17, 2011: FALL SALE BEGINS! ********

New collectible tins for Fall!

We have 2 new tins that are being rolled out for our Fall Product Sale. These are extra special to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts! The 100th Anniversary tin will contain the dark chocolate pretzels. The School House tine will contain the mint meltaways.

New Fall Food Items

We are so excited to announce some delicious additions to our Fall Sale!

*3-Pack Sampler featuring Honey Roasted Cashews, Spicy Peanuts, and Wasabi Almonds.This is a perfect gift item and the only variety-pack being offered this year!

*Blueberry Pomegranate Nut Crunch.This is our CEO's personal favorite during taste-testing! A healthy option that tastes like fresh blueberries in granola-squares!

*Butter Toasted PeanutsButter coated peanuts that have a caramel-coated taste.

*Chocolate Truffles (Sugar Free)Our GSMISTS staff commented that these delicious truffles do not taste sugar free. I couldn't agree more! I am not a fan of sugar free chocolate and I seriously could not tell the difference...SO good!

*Caramel TreasuresChocolate coated caramels. You take one bite and taste soft caramel. These bite-sized treats are packed with a chocolate/caramel flavor. SO yummy!

*Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels (available in 100th Anniversary Tin)
Our Marketing Director's pick this year. If you love dark chocolate, you will love these pretzels! Many of our staff raved about this particular item!

Enjoy Summer and then fall into our Fall Sale!

So it's Friday. I'm looking out my desk window and see blue skies and the sun is shining. It is a BEAUTIFUL summer day! Guess what I'm doing right now? Planning for the Fall Product Sale! I am super excited because we have some fun things up our sleeves for this year's sale. Just some of the new things include: cool contests, Gift of Caring for nuts and magazines, Fall Kickoff Open Houses & much, much more! Stay tuned for details.

In the meantime, enjoy your summer Weekend. Swim in a lake, dive into a pool, get ice cream, ride your bike, hit up a farmers market, catch fireflies, roast marshamellows and just enjoy time with your friends and family. All too soon- the leaves will be changing, school will be starting and the Fall Sale will be upon us.

Taste tested new Girl Scout Cookie

This morning I arrived to work and found FUN MAIL! Don't you love getting mail that is not bills- no one asking for money- but just pure fun? I opened up the package and nestled in the green confetti were 2 boxes of the new Girl Scout cookie ~ Savannah Smiles. I ripped open one of the boxes so fast- it felt like Christmas morning! I bit into my 1st bite-sized cookie and had an instant lemon explosion in my mouth. The powdered sugar coating was glorious mixed with the lemon and I loved the crunch of the cookie. The cookie paired well with my morning coffee. In fact- I couldn't stop at just 1! 5 cookies later, I had to stop myself. I seriously could have eaten the whole box. I felt slightly guilty (after all, it was only 8:30 in the morning) until I looked at the calorie count; only 140 calories for 5 bite-sized cookies. WOW!

I decided to share the yumminess with the rest of the staff. Cookies at 8:30 AM? No problem! They were all SO excited. I asked for everyone's opionion. The majority loved these cookies; commenting that they were better than the Lemon Chalet Cremes. (I agree!). I also heard "these are my new favorite" and "SO delicious" amongst other comments. The ones who were just so-so on the cookie did say that they just were not "lemon people".

I give this cookie 2 thumbs up. When I ate my 5 cookies, I just had to smile in satisfaction and pure lemon bliss. Oh wait.... Savannah SMILES! This cookie definitely lives up to its name. I just know you will LOVE the new cookie!

Great Wolf Lodge Super Seller Trip

I have wanted to blog about our fantastic Super Seller Great Wolf Lodge trip since May. The problem? My camera broke and I have zero pictures to commemorate! I still want to share with you all the fun we had. I had never been to Great Wolf Lodge and it was a real treat to experience all this wonderful resort had to offer. It was so fun spending time with all the Super Sellers! On Saturday- we hit the waterpark first. The girls had a great time on the slides-- some you took tubes down and the slides were enclosed, some were open, some were twisty... it was a blast! There were bridges, lily pads, a lazy river, hot tubs and more! After the waterpark, our tummies were rumbling. We went out to eat at the Camp Critter Restaurant at Great Wolf Lodge and enjoyed pizza and pop. Afterward, we hit the arcade; which had tons of fun games. The girls loved using their free tokens on games and they acquired tickets to turn in for some fun prizes. After the arcade- we had a spa party with yummy spa treatments you could eat! The girls made a pink peppermint foot glow, pink lemonade lip shimmer and a honey yogurt hand scrub. Then, there was free time. Some girls hit the resort gift shop; my girls wanted to grab ice cream at the Bear Paw Sweets and Eats and some purchased paw passes to do a fun game around the resort. Finally- sleep was calling. We hit the hay and woke up the next morning for a delicious breakfast buffet at the resort restaurant. The girls then went back for round 2 at the waterpark. Phew! We had such a fun time and the girls loved it! (I did too!). Our super sellers definitely deserved this trip for selling 1,000+ boxes of cookies! Way to go girls!

Happy 4th of July GSMISTS Girl Scouts!

What is your 4th of July like? When I was little, we would go to my grandparent's friends house at Silver Lake. We would swim, eat hot dogs and just as the sun was setting- swirl sparklers around. Then we would watch the fireworks over the lake. As a teenager, my 4th of Julys were spent going downtown Grand Rapids with a group of friends (and possibly a boyfriend) to watch the fireworks. And as an adult- we have a big pool party at my parent's house...still involving grilling out and sparklers and possibly going to see fireworks. Ahh summer! I hope whatever you do this 4th- it is filled with family, friends and lots of memories. Happy 4th of July everyone!

5 year old Top GSMISTS Cookie Seller for 2011!

5 year old Brynn Fortner holds a title that very few can claim ~ Top Cookie Seller! She worked very hard to sell 1,563 boxes. While some girls rely on their parents to take their cookie order card to work, Brynn sold her cookies on foot. She wanted to do the whole thing. Brynn set a goal of getting the stuffed animal. Her mom said, "Brynn, I think you can do better than that." "OK, Mama" she said, "I want ALL the prizes on the order form." Brynn's mother explained that she had to sell 1,500 boxes and that was a lot of cookies. "We can do it, Mama" Brynn said. And they did. Every day after school they went out, door to door and sold cookies. They took a break for supper and went out again after that. Day in, and day out- night after night- door to door they sold cookies. Brynn gave her cookie speech and talked about her goal of selling 1,500 boxes to earn the laptop computer. They even went out in a blizzard! Brynn was determined- she wanted to do the whole thing, her mother said. Brynn took her cookie order card with her everywhere: the grocery store, restaurants, etc. Who can resist a 5 year old asking to buy Girl Scout Cookies? At one particular house- a gruff guy in his 30s was decked out in Michigan Gear. Brynn said, "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies? Oh, and GO BLUE!" The guy began to chuckle...and of course, bought some cookies! Her troop did not participate in booth sales so literally it was Brynn going throughout her neighborhood and town selling cookies!

It was a great day when Brynn, her mom and Grandma came to pick up her laptop computer. Asked what she was going to do with her computer, Brynn responded, "I want to play a Dora game on it!". Well Brynn, have fun playing your Dora Game. You deserve it!

Top Troop at Double JJ Ranch last weekend

Last weekend, the Top Selling Cookie Troop enjoyed their Super Troop Award ~ an overnight trip to the Double JJ Ranch.

Troop 20488 hit the water park at Double JJ and slid down Western Michigan's tallest indoor water slide! The water park also included: other fun water slides, a lazy/crazy river, wave pool, water fort, water basketball, and a hot tub. Then the girls headed off for a hay ride, complete with a real, live singing cowboy! They ate s'mores around a campfire and slept in tepees. In the morning, the girls were up bright and early to go horseback riding! Wow- a real live cowboy, horseback riding, tepees, an indoor water park....all in 1 weekend! Phew! These girls were busy have tons of fun! Congrats, girls- on a cookie-selling job well done! I'm glad you had an amazing trip!

Total troop sales were $20,419.

3 new pictures of our Super Cookie Sellers!

Pictured: Zoe Paul-Shepard, Jennavieve Gilliam and Bethany Kartes with their brand new laptops! Way to go, girls!!

Other Cookie Super Seller who opted out of the laptop

Rachel Dembinski sold 1500 boxes of cookies & did not choose the laptop. Instead she chose to take the extra incentive for her troop. She also donated all her cookie dough to the troop so we they could register girls for free.

Congrats, Rachel on all your hard work!

Cookie Super Sellers earn laptop computers!

10 amazing girls sold 1,500+ boxes of cookies this past season! This is a major undertaking and a HUGE accomplishment! I am so proud of the following girls: Ashley Caverley Natalee Hill, Gretchen Heegeman, Mariah McNeilly, Emily Oldenburg, Meredith Allen, Jannavieve Gilliam, Brynn Fortner, Zoe Paul-Shepard and Bethany Kartes. Girls received laptop computers along with a cool carrying case.

I asked these girls how they raked in the big numbers...
1 went out every day after school for 3 hours each night going door to door in the cold selling, selling, selling. That is dedication! Another sold in cases- saying, "1 case of thin mints is only $42". And one girl attached recipes from Little Brownie to her order sheet as she went around to potential customers. Way to go girls! We are so proud of each of you!

Pictured: Ashley Caverley, picking up her laptop at the Grand Rapids Service Center.

Nostalgic about this past season

Yesterday I was cleaning up and putting away papers from the Product Sales Fall and Cookie Seasons to make way for 2011-2012. I had to smile as I looked at pictures from the sales. There were several highlights I wanted to share.

Fall Sale
Super Sell-abration Dinner for Top Sellers. This was my 1st opportunity, being new to interact with the girls! I had so much fun eating and chatting with each of you throughout the 30 counties.

Cookie Sale
Community Cookie Booth Weekend. I loved how our staff and troops came together to make this weekend a success!

Cookie Kickoff Events. What fun we had at our 3 venues with your girls, teaching them about cookies, laughing and just having a great time.

Bling Your Booth Contest. I was pleasantly surprised with all pics I received for this contest. I believe our troops have the best Girl Scout Spirit in the nation! I also enjoyed celebrating with the top troop with dessert out!

I could go on and on but I just wanted to say 'thank you' to all of you for making my 1st official Product Sales season rock. I have learned so much from all of you and cannot wait for 2011-2012!

New Cookie for 100th anniversary!

Announcement from Little Brownie Bakers-

New Savannah Smiles Cookie is coming your way for the 2011-2012 cookie season!

Celebrating 100 years of Girl ScoutingNo place captures the imaginations of Girl Scouts like Savannah, Georgia. It was there in 1912 that Juliette Gordon Low walked beneath the moss-draped trees and made the deicision to start her amazing organization for girls.

How fitting that Little Brownie Bakers will pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting with a lemon cookie that reflects the heritage of past customer favorites. These bite-sized, lemon wedge cookies, dusted in powdered sugar, are bursting with zesty lemon flavor. And when you hold it right, you will quickly be reminded of that world-famous "Brownie Smile". Savannah Smiles lemon cookies will delight customers and remind girls of their rich heritage. Enjoy these delightful treats, remember where Girl Scouting began....and smile! :)Happy 100th Annivesary Girl Scouts!
From: Your friends at Little Brownie Bakers

Melting Pot Night Out with Troop 20126!

Last week I took the winning troop from the 'Bling your Booth' contest to the Melting Pot. Troop 20126 from Muskegon took top honors in our contest. We had dessert that consisted of s'mores fondue, strawberries, bananas, angel food cake, brownies, jumbo marshmallows, cheesecake and more! The girls were so excited and we had such a fun time! I brought along a 'sneak preview' of our Fall Incentives and received the girl's feedback on what items they like best. We had a great evening out celebrating their accomplishments!

Girls- we need YOUR VOTE!

We have an opportunity for your girls to vote on the exciting awards for next year’s cookie sale! I can't tell you how important the girls vote is in determining next year’s incentives. Please pass along the link to them. Voting is open until Monday, June 13th. Thanks!

http://girlscoutsurveys.com/lbb/more/mishore

Top Selling Cookie Troop

Drum roll please...........

The Top Selling Cookie Troop for 2011 is Troop 20488 in Muskegon! Total troop sales were $20,419! Way to go girls!

They are awarded the Super Troop Award! This award is a resort package at the Double JJ Ranch. It includes: spending the night in a cabin, wagon or teepee; enjoying the indoor water park and many other activities!

CONGRATS TROOP 20488!!

Girl Scout Cookies coming to the Food Network!

Show Details:
Watch Samoas® Girl Scout cookies made at our Louisville bakery Saturday, May 28, on the Food Network’s “Unwrapped” series at 9 p.m. EDT.

Have you ever wondered how your favorite Samoas® Girl Scout cookies are made? Those tender vanilla cookies, covered with real caramel, rolled in toasted coconut and striped with a rich, chocolaty coating, are enjoyed by countless Girl Scout-cookie lovers each year. But how do all those ingredients come together to make such a tasty snack?

The answer will be revealed next Saturday, May 28, when the classic cookie takes over the airwaves at the Food Network.

Samoas® will be one of several American classics featured on a special one-hour “All-American Eats” segment on the Food Network’s “Unwrapped” series. The popular show visited the Louisville bakery to film how Little Brownie Bakers makes Samoas® – a brand name cookie so popular it has 400,000+ Facebook “likes.” Viewers will get a behind-the-scenes peek at the copper kettles filled with creamy caramel and how the cookies “earn” their distinctive chocolaty stripes.

Each week, “Unwrapped” uncovers behind-the-scenes details on classic American food. Additional classics that will be featured in the “Unwrapped” segment include Coca-Cola, Twinkies and Hungry Jack, among others.

“Unwrapped” is hosted by Marc Summers, who has previously hosted Nickelodeon’s “Double Dare” as well as ABC-TV’s “Home Show,” Lifetime’s “Our Home” and the Food Network’s “Ultimate Recipe Showdown” series.

For more information about the show, visit: http://www.foodnetwork.com/unwrapped/all-american-eats/index.html.

Gift of Caring Cookies donated to MI Blood

Yesterday we delivered our Gift of Caring cookies to Michigan Blood in Grand Rapids. 3,319 boxes of GS Cookies were donated. WZZM 13 news was on hand to film as well as the Grand Rapids Press.

Way to go all the girls who worked hard to donate to MI Blood and all the other great charities this cookie season!!

Troop 20126 Winner of the 'Bling You Booth Contest'

We had so many creative, wonderful pictures sent in for our Bling Your Booth Contest. It was very hard to select a winner! Our GSMISTS staff members all cast their votes for their favorite booths.

The winning troop exemplified the criteria we were looking for which included:
• Promotion of the Gift of Caring
• Use/promotion of Bundling
• Creativity

Troop 20126 had their booth at Sam's Club in Muskegon on April 1, 2011. The girls had fun with painting their handprints and decorating paper for their cookie risers. They dressed up as their favorite cookie and added a little personality of their own! The girls also decorated a minivan with Girl Scout cookie decals! Troop 20126 will be treated to a dinner at their favorite restaurant by the Product Sales Director (me!).


Congrats Troop 20126!!!

Booth Sales extended through April 30th

Is your troop still trying to earn money? Do you have a special trip planned? An exciting community project that could use some extra funds? Do you have extra cookies that just need to be sold?

We are extending Booth Sales through April 30th! You have an additional 2 weeks to sell those cookies. It's not too late to contact local businesses and sell those cookies! With Easter around the corner- remind people that cookies make a great addition to any Easter basket! Also- I highly recommend using cookies to make a yummy dessert to bring to any family Easter dinner! The possibilities are endless!!

Cookie Drive Thru

We had a wonderful 1st ever Cookie Drive-Thru! We were at the corner of the East Beltline and 28th Street. Council provided the setup and cookies and cars had to literally drive up and order!

If you missed it- you can sign up for this weekend on ebudde. We have 2 shifts- 11 Am-2 PM and 2 PM-5 PM. This is a great last minute opportunity for your girls. We have cookie costumes, cookies, change....we just need troops.

Click on the link to check out WZZM 13's news story on our drive thru. It was featured both Saturday night and Sunday morning!

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=161774

Ice Cream Shop wanting Girl Scouts to sell cookies this weekend

I just received a call from The Dairy Den in Wyoming. They are having a Grand Opening of the Season and would love to have a Girl Scout Troop Booth sale in front of their ice cream place. They are even going to offer a ‘girl scout special’ 99 cent slushie or something like that. They are open for booth sales Fri.-Sun., anytime. She really wants this weekend but is open next weekend as well.

If interested- please contact Becca Emaus directly to set up the booth sale. Her phone is: 616-406-2102 and is the owner of The Dairy Den.

The Dairy Den
4054 Division Avenue South
Grand Rapids, MI 49548-3369
(just down a little ways from Branns Restaurant)

Cookie Walkabout Weekend ~ this weekend!

April 9-10 is the GSMISTS designated Cookie Walkabout Weekend. A walkabout is when adults supervise girls in a neighborhood door-to-door sale with cookies in hand; a cookie filled vehicle can follow along to replenish cookies. Choose a neighborhood to sell cookies. Advertise the time and date of your walkabout in the area.

Decorate your car, grab a wagon, fill it with cookies and you’re ready for a walkabout! This is a great opportunity to sell all your remaining cookies!

Cookie Drive Thru this Weekend!

We are trying something new.... instead of a Fast Food Drive Thru- we are featuring a Cookie Drive Thru! Come support GSMISTS this Saturday anytime between 11 AM-5 PM. The weather will be gorgeous. If you know of people who would like to get their hands on cookies- come on out to our fun drive thru!

We will be doing this next Saturday as well. Sign up on ebudde!

Money Money Money Money..... MONEY!!!

Cookie payment time is well underway--- YEAH! Please plan accordingly and if you do not want to wait in long lines.... avoid Friday! (as in, tomorrow!). Friday is notorious for everyone and their sister bringing in payments. While we are aok with you coming in tomorrow- you may have other ideas of how to spend your Friday. Remember we do have payment days through April 5 where you can go to your nearest GS Service Center to drop off payments.

Can I just say 'thanks again' for all your hard work this cookie season? You have all done so much and we at GSMISTS appreciate you!

Bling Your Booth Contest

Bling your Booth Contest
Show us your Girl Scout Spirit! Make your Cookie Booth stand out! Creatively decorate your Cookie Booth and email a picture of your booth to: tmyers@gsmists.org. Or mail your photo along with your Service Unit number/Troop number. Photos must be received no later than April 16, 2011.

Mail to:
Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore
Attn: Taryn Myers
3275 Walker Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544

GSMISTS will award a prize to the troop who has the best booth! We will post all booth photos to our Facebook page for you to view!
Criteria we are looking for includes:
• Creativity
• Promotion of the Gift of Caring
• Use/promotion of Bundling

For fun ideas to dress up your booth, please visit http://littlebrowniebakers.com.

Cookie Booth Sales

Cookie booth sales begin this weekend! Troops can find their favorite booth location and set up their own sale. Just a reminder that troops must supply their own cookies for booths. Troops may organize Cookie Booths at locations of their choice during the Cookie Booth timeframe: March 26-April 16, 2011.

Location ideas:
• Sport events
• Concerts/plays
• Video stores
• Banks
• Car washes
• Churches
• Grocery stores
• Senior villages
• Quick oil change business
• Universities or Colleges


Troops MUST submit their booth information in the Cookie Booth locator on Ebudde. This way, the council can advertise your troop’s booth for increased sales.
Troops that order cookies for booth sales with the troop’s original order are responsible for payment. No returns or exchanges will be made.

We do have a few booths set up at the council level on ebudde you can sign up for:

Openings:
Walmart
5859 28th Street Southeast Grand Rapids, MI
Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:30pm -- 5:00pm
Fri Apr 1, 2011 5:30pm -- 7:00pm
Sat Apr 2, 2011 1:30pm -- 5:00pm
Sat Apr 9, 2011 5:00pm -- 8:30pm

Michigan Blood Center
1036 Fuller Ave. NE Grand Rapids, MI
Tue Apr 5, 2011 4:00pm -- 7:00pm
Wed Apr 6, 2011 4:00pm -- 7:00pm
*Note- you may pick up cookies at the GR Service Center for this booth and return what doesn't sell. Special exception for Gift of Caring

Northwest Michigan Blood Center
2575 Aero Park Drive Traverse City, MI
Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:00pm -- 6:00pm
Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:00am -- 2:00pm
Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:00pm -- 6:00pm
Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:00pm -- 6:00pm
Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:00am -- 2:00pm
Thr Mar 31, 2011 4:00pm -- 6:00pm
Thr Mar 31, 2011 11:00am -- 2:00pm
*Note- you may pick up cookies at the TC Service Center for this booth and return what doesn't sell. Special exception for Gift of Caring

Community Cookie Booth Weekend + Great Girl Scouts + Helpful Staff = Success!

So we just finished our Community Cookie Booth Weekend. What a fun couple of days! Our staff enjoyed servicing the troops throughout the shifts. I hope you had a positive experience. We are going to post an Evaluation Survey on ebudde soon. Please take the time to fill it out. We want to know what went well and also what we can improve upon for next year.

Also- we have a great Cookie youtube video! Please check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQGJDW8yPP8

Community Cookie Booth Weekend happening NOW!

This weekend is Community Cookie Booth Weekend and we here at the council are SOOOO excited! We have locations in 30 counties where troops will be selling-selling-selling those cookies. Every person at our council is working to service the troops. We are ready and we are on hand for the troops. Please encourage your friends, neighbors, family members and anyone else you know to stop by their local community within GSMISTS to purchase their girl scout cookies. Our Cookie Locator is on our website: www.gsmists.org where you can type in your zip code and it will pull up all the booths in your area. We have booths at: Sams Clubs, Walmarts, local coffee shops, grocery stores and more.

The weather forecast is beautiful- 50s and sunshine! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

We look forward to a fun weekend!

Local Girl Scouts on TV!

Yesterday was a super fun day! 7 Girl Scouts and myself were on Take 5 Grand Rapids yesterday morning. We made Thin Mint Brownies on air and talked "cookies". The girls did a great job and were so excited to be on TV!

Check us out at:

http://www.wzzm13.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=807160168001&odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|featured#/News/Take+Five+%2D+Thin+Mint+Brownies+%2D+3%2F1/50790483001/50624701001/807160168001

Community Cookie Booth Weekend - sign up for additional time slots

We are opening up additional slots for Community Cookie Booth Weekend. If your troop has already signed up for a slot, you can now go back into ebudde and sign up for more time slots (maximum 3 time slots). The new rule will be "live" in about 1 hour.

We look forward to a great Community Cookie Booth Weekend! Just a reminder- CCB Weekend is March 19-20. Tell your friends and family about the weekend! They can go on littlebrownie.com and plug their zip code in the Cookie Locator to pull up booths in their area.

These Service Units ROCK!!

I want to send a 'Shout Out' to the following Service Units who have increased cookie sales from last year:

Allendale
Rockford
Big Rapids
Cherry Valley
Flat River
Greater Montcalm
Hudsonville 30% increase!
Lakewood 46% increase!
North Kent
Portland
Zeeland
Fruitport
Hesperia
Mason
Oceana
Orchard View
Spring Lake
Holland
Atlanta/Hillman
Charlevoix
Kalkaska
Oscoda
Rogers City

WAY TO GO! For the rest of you- keep going! There is still time and we are with you all the way!! If you need assistance, contact your nearest Product Sales Manager.

Women's Expo - Adult 'Pudding Parfait Samplers' needed

Have you ever been to the Women's Expo downtown Grand Rapids? If not, it is a real treat! I attended last year and had a blast! There are tons of booths all catered to woman including: health and beauty, stores, services and my favorite- FOOD! I left with my belly full (along with purchasing jam from a local farmer and comfy wool socks from a clothing vendor). I still remember the GSMISTS booth - not because I worked here (because I didn't back then) but because I received a yummy Thin Mint Malt sample! I remember waiting in a very long line just to sample that tiny milk shake and every minute waiting was MORE than worth it!

This year, we are running a Pudding Parfait Girl Scout Cafe! Our troops are revved up to sell cookies and we have been booked up for a month. 1 snag- I have no adults to actually assemble and sample these perfect parfaits. Please help a girl out (me being the girl this time) and volunteer a few hours. The parfaits are very easy to assemble and the time will fly by! Not only that- but you will receive free admission to the expo.

If you've always wanted to attend the expo and feel good volunteering- here is a great opportunity. Please call me to schedule at 616-784-3341 x 142 or email: tmyers@gsmists.org.

Community Cookie Booth Weekend is LIVE!

Community Cookie Booth sites are on Ebudde and ready for you to sign up to get your spot! For those of you who are new like me- this is a GREAT and EASY way for troops to sell cookies. Our Product Sales Managers secured locations. You just pick your favorite location and 2 hour time slot and show up to sell! We provide the cookies on site to you. You earn $.65 per box!

We have some AWESOME locations this year all across the counties. Woodland Mall, Rivertown Mall, several Walmarts, Sams Clubs, Lowes, various Spartan Stores and several Movie Theatres! Don't miss out on a wonderful opportunity for your girls.

Just go on the Ebudde Booth Scheduler and take your pick today. The site went "live" at 8 AM this morning. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to let me know. We are here for you!

50 uses for Girl Scout Cookies

1. Whirl Thin Mints in a blender with ice cream and make yummy shakes

2. Top cake or ice cream with crumbled cookies.

3. Paint with shellac to use as drawer pulls.

4. Make minty sandwiches with cream frosting between two Thin Mints. Oh, my.

5. Use a cookie as a spare when Barbie’s Mustang convertible blows a tire.

6. Create a lovely stand for collectible figurines.

7. Use Thin Mints as a breath freshener.

8. Use cook- ies as “pepperoni” slices for dessert pizza. Hold the anchovies.

9. Have a cookie Frisbee contest.

10. Crumble for a refrigerator pie crust. Dulce de leche work very well.

11. Throw a couple of cookies at talkers in movie theaters. No wait, don’t waste the cookies.

12. Make a decadent sandwich with chocolate frosting between two Trefoils. Is it getting warm in here?

13. Give cookies as gifts to people you are trying to impress. Works every time.

14. Put cookies under a short table leg to stop a wobble.

15. Use as edible bookmarks.

16. Layer a sheet pan with crushed cookies for a bar cookie base.

17. Freeze one box of each variety for the hoarding frenzy at the turn of the next millennium.

18. Kick ‘em up a notch by dipping half of a Trefoil cookie in melted chocolate.

19. Add cookies to a time capsule.

20. Add crumbled cookies to any ice box pie recipe.

21. Hold onto a few boxes for the Antiques Roadshow 2099. Don’t break those seals! Mint condition Thin Mints will hold their value, and by then appraisers Leigh and Leslie Keno will both know how to tell a real box of Girl Scout cookies from an overpriced shameful reproduction.

22. Save some cookies to use as building materials for holiday gingerbread houses.

23. Bribe kids with cookies for some quiet or good behavior. Be prepared. This could require lots of cookies.

24. Make decadent party lemon tartlets by creating Lemon Chalet cookie crusts and topping with store-bought lemon curd. Dot each with a dab of whipped cream and back away quickly from the buffet tables.

25. Use boxes of cookies as “Tips” for the lawn service workers, maid, etc.

26. Keep on hand for emergency potluck dessert fare. Arrange on a nice platter of course!

27. Start a Random Act of Cookieness movement. Offer a cookie to everyone you meet.

28. Make dirt pudding for snacks by adding crushed, frozen Tagalongs to a vanilla pudding mixture. Gummi worms are optional.

29. Use cookies to teach kids how to count. One cookie, two cookies… whoops, just lost a cookie.

30. Make a bouquet by “gluing” wood sticks to cookies with royal icing.

31. Make icing faces on them and tell the neighbors you are taking in orphaned cookies. This ruse won’t last for long so be prepared for an intervention at some point.

32. Make Do-si-dos Cookie Pie by using pulverized cookies for the crumb crust.

33. Use cookies for edible checkers game pieces. You get to eat one every time you crown someone. This could lead to a mega-resurgence in the popularity of board games.

34. Make a mint mousse cake by adding crushed Thin Mints to a package mix.

35. The next time the car breaks down, forget the auto club. Spell out HELP on the windshield with cookies. Will folks stop? You can bet your Tagalongs they will!

36. Make a lemony chocolate mousse pie by creating a sweet-tart crust with ground Reduced-fat Lemon Pastry Cremes and melted butter. Use a boxed mix to make the chocolate filling and garnish with lemon twists.

37. Let the kids use cookies for play coins. If they play nice, they can eat them!

38. Let them drool over chocolate Thin Mint pizza supreme with a chocolate-chunk cookie dough “crust’” and a mixture of white chocolate morsels with crushed Thin Mint topping. Ice cream on the side is truly over the top, so pull the shades.

39. Serve Girl Scout cookies at Cub Scout camp outs. Cub Scouts sell popcorn, but it just isn’t the same, boys.

40. Think chocolate avalanche with chopped cookies pressed into melted chocolate. When it hardens, break into pieces and serve with ice cream.

41. Use a Thin Mint for an emergency sink stopper. Of course it won’t work, but at least you tried.

42. Make a PB&J sundae by topping vanilla ice cream with a few tablespoons of grape jelly and cover with crushed Do-si-Dos.

43. Use cookies as interview calling cards. You want them to remember you, don’t you?

44. Make a three-ingredient apple crisp by covering sliced apples with melted butter and crushed Do-si-Dos. Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes, or until crumbs are golden and apples are soft. Ice cream on the side? Of course.

45. Modify a Girl Scout Law: A Girl Scout is clean in thought, word, deed and cookie crumbs. Say it loud, say it proud.

46. Separate Do-si-Dos. Microwave half of a large marshmallow or 3 minimarshmallows on high power for 10 seconds. Put puffed marshmallows and a milk chocolate square on a cookie half. Replace top and serve.

47. Modify the Brownie promise to read: I promise to do my best to love God and my country, to help people every day, especially those without cookies. Warms the hungry heart, doesn’t it?

48. Add cookies to gift baskets for your foodie friends.

49. Make peanut butter balls by mixing crushed Tagalongs with melted butter, and roll in nuts.

50. Create a tabletop mosaic with cookies. Varnish or encase in plastic coating to create a family heirloom that will keep them talking for generations.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_food_blog/2011/02/50-uses-for-a-girl-scout-cookie.html

Beautiful weather+enthusiastic Girl Scouts = more cookies sold!

Hi Girl Scouts! The weather is BEAUTIFUL this week and perfect for you to get out in your neighborhoods and continue to sell Girl Scout cookies! I know you turned in your initial order already, but you can still sell! Pick up a new order card and continue selling cookies and earn incentives and cookie dough! Whatever orders you receive, you can pick up cookies at your nearest cookie station once cookies arrive.

Great job so far on the cookie sales!

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore will continue offering all 8 varieties of cookies

Little Brownie Bakers is pleased to provide the following facts to clarify and, in some cases, correct information that recently appeared in a Wall Street Journal article, January 27th, regarding the Super Six pilot program.

Summary: Of 112 Girl Scout councils in the country, 12 Little Brownie councils have chosen to participate in a pilot program that focuses on the six top-selling cookie varieties. These councils are seeking new ways to drive efficiencies, ease and simplicity for everyone involved in the Cookie Program. The pilot project will be evaluated at the end of Cookie Season to see whether a more streamlined product line achieves these objectives. No decision has been made in any council, or by Little Brownie Bakers, regarding which cookie varieties will be offered in the future.

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore is not part of this pilot program. We will continue to offer all eight varieties of cookies: Thank U Berry Munch, Dulce de Leche, and Thin Mints, Samoas®, Tagalongs®, Do-si-dos®, Trefoils, Lemon Chalet Cremes™.

Flavorful fun facts on America's Favorite Cookie: Thin Mints!

Who doesn't love to bite into a chocolately, refreshing minty Thin Mint? I sure do! Overall, America's favorite Girl Scout cookie has proven to be the Thin Mint. Suprised?

Did you know:
•Little Brownie bakes over 4,500,000 Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies per day during peak baking times.
•After exiting the oven, Thin Mints travel 300 feet on a conveyer belt to cool before being coated in the chocolate

Here's an original recipe using Thin Mints~

Thin Mint Cheesecake Pops
Created by Chef Christopher Carey, Traverse City Golf and Country Club

Ingredients:
4 8oz packages of cream cheese (softened to room temp.)
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup corn starch
1 T. pure vanilla paste
2 xlg eggs
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 sleeve Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies

Directions:
In mixer, cream: cream cheese, cornstarch, sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Add one egg at a time into mixture. Add heavy cream and mix until completely blended and smooth. Break Thin Mint cookies into large pieces and add to mixture. Pour batter into 1/2 sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes, or until firm at center. Lake cake cool on wire rack. Refrigerate cheesecake overnight. Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop small amount of cheesecake and mold into a ball. Place a candy sucker stick in center of each cheesecake ball and place on parchment paper and freeze for one hour. Temper coating chocolate over water in double boiiler. Remove from heat when chocolate is melted. Dip cheesecake on a stick into melted chocolate and place on parchment paper. Let chocolate cool and harden.

Yield 24 cheesecake pops.

Cookie Stations

Cookie Stations are available for those in outlying areas to pick up additional cookies. Please contact the person at each station to arrange for a pickup time. Happy selling, everyone!

Alpena County ~ In the shopping center at Chisholm and State Roads
135 N. State Street
Alpena, MI 49707
Contact: TBD

Alto/Caledonia
8479 Vincent Ave
Alto, MI 49302
Contact: Gayle Kraft, 616-891-1802

Bellaire ~ Bellaire Wesleyan Church
108 E. Cayuga
Bellaire, MI 49615-0250
Contact: Sally Ann Corner, 231-533-8751, sally_ann@charter.net

Big Rapids
420 Hutchinson St
Big Rapids, MI 49307
Contact: Nancy Pins, h: 231-592-5251, w:231-796-6138

Charlevoix ~ Your Service Plus
6643 Easter Wood
East Jordan, MI 49727
Contact: Michelle Nowka, c: 231-350-0751, h:231-536-2532, w:231-536-9668
Michelle@atyourserviceplus.com

Ludington ~ Ludington Little House
1024 Olmstead St
Ludington, MI 49431
Contact: Pam Huether, 231-843-4814, phuether@charter.net

GSMISTS Service Centers

Grand Rapids Service Center
3275 Walker Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544
Contact: Jered Michael, 616-784-3341 x 124, jmichael@gsmists.org

Muskegon Service Center
1217 E. River Rd
Muskegon, MI 49445
Contact: Sally Ellis, 231-744-4774 x 202, sellis@gsmists.org

Traverse City Service Center
1820 Oak Hollow Dr
Traverse City, MI 49686
Contact: Deb Lang, 231-947-7354 x 222, dlang@gsmists.org

Ode to the Samoa!!

Samoas are my all time favorite Girl Scout cookie! I love these scrumptious caramel cookies SO MUCH that I am devoting an entire post to them.

Did you know---
*Samoas are cooked the old fashion way in copper kettles to 234 degrees.
*Little Brownie Bakers makes their own caramel for samoas.
*Samoas are the most popular cookie sold in our council, just beating out the Thin Mint (which is most popular overall).

Recipe:
In our Desserts Uncorked Cookbook- here is a recipe created by Chef Cheryl Andrews for:

SWEET SAMOA BAKLAVA
Ingredients:
1 16 oz phyllo dough
1 pound chopped walnuts
1 cup butter
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup honey
1 package crushed Samoas Girl Scout Cookies

Preheat oven to 350. Butter bottom and sides of 9 x 13 pan.

Mix nuts, cookies and cinnamon- set aside. Unroll thawed phyllo dough and cover with damp cloth while working with dough so it doesn't dry out. Place 2 sheets of dough in a pan and butter thoroughly. Repeat this step 3 more times. Then, on last layer, put 1/3 of the cookie/nut mixture, place 2 sheets dough over the mixture and butter, add the last of the cookie and nut mixture. Finish by placing 2 sheets of dough then butter making 8 layers.

Using a sharp knife, cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to bottom of pan. Bake for 50 minutes or until golden and crisp.

Make sauce while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is dissolved. Add vanilla and honey, simmer for about 20 minutes.

Remove baklava from oven and immediately spoon sauce over top. Let cool.

Oh YUM!! I am hungry as I type. On this snowy evening, I'm going to go home, use my frozen samoas from last year and make myself some sweet SAMOA BAKALAVA....aahh, pure bliss!

Expos Filled

Many of you have contacted me regarding cookie booths at the Expos in March. We are completely filled up. Of course- you can attend one of these expos to support Girl Scouts and to just plain have a fun time! The expos are: The Home & Garden Expo, March 3-6, The Women's Expo, March 11-13, and The Cottage and Lakefront Living Expo, March 25-27. All expos are held at the Devos Place, downtown Grand Rapids.

How are your cookie sales going so far? I have heard great reports of girls selling, selling, selling! Don't forget--- girls in other pathways can sell cookies-not just girls in troops. We want to encourage everyone to be involved in our cookie program.

Cookie Season is finally here!

Excitement is in the air and I know why..... Cookie Season is finally here!! I have slept, dreamt and waited for this day to arrive! I was already approached by a Girl Scout over the weekend out selling cookies door to door. Way to go! One mom emailed me today that her daughter has already sold 1,200 boxes. WOW! I hope all of you have a wonderful selling season and are out and about in your neighborhoods, talking to friends and family about cookies. Most of all- I hope you are having tons of FUN doing it! At the end of the day- it is all about having fun while learning at the same time.

If you run into any snags on eBudde- don't forget about our optional Open Ebudde Trainings happening this week and next with your host, Product Sales Manager, Jered Michael. Dates:
Tues., Jan. 25, 2-3 PM or 6-7 PM at the Muskegon Service Center
Mon., Jan. 31, 2-3 PM or 6-7 PM at the Traverse City Service Center
Tues., Feb. 1, 6-6:30 PM or 8:30-9 PM
Thurs., Feb. 10, 2-3 PM or 6-7 PM.

You MUST RSVP 3 days prior. If there isn't enough interest- the trainings will be cancelled. To RSVP please email jmichael@gsmists.org. Put Ebudde Training RSVP in the subject line and indicate which training you will be attending.

Here's to a great 2011 Cookie Season!!!

Cookie Kickoffs+520 girls = AMAZING!

Hi all-
It was so great to meet so many of you at our Grand Rapids Cookie Kickoff! We had a ton of fun and the girls walked away knowing more about selling cookies and being comfortable while doing it! Booths focused on: marketing, safety, cookie opportunities online, goal setting and of course.... plenty of FUN! Afterward, the girls had the opportunity to see Tangled and have free popcorn! Spring Lake- the girls went through the stations and played games and Traverse City was spent doing gymnastics! What a great time! Thanks to all the leaders and families who brought out your girls. I am SO pumped about this cookie season!

Cookie Kickoff Events no longer accepting RSVPs

I am happily overwhelmed by all of you! As of today, we have over 700 girls who have reserved spots at 1 of our 3 Cookie Kickoffs this Saturday. Wow! You have blown me away!

Due to this number, we are definitely at capacity and cannot accept anymore RSVPs. We have 6 stations for the girls to go through and we want to make sure to take time with each girl so they know and understand the cookie program. While we won't turn anyone down, if you haven't reserved your spot- it's something to consider.

Some tips for this Saturday:

1. Come ready to stand in long lines. We will try to move everyone through the stations as efficiently as possible but due to the shear number of girls, there will be lines. Please come with plenty of patience.

2. When you arrive, stop first at the Registration Table and have your girls pick up their Cookie Passports. When they visit each station, they will receive a stamp on their passport. Once completed, turn passports back in at the reservation table for cool prizes! Don't forget to have them write their name/phone number on the back of the postcard.

3. Remember this event is Open House style. Come anytime within the 2 hour event. If 1 booth has a huge line, start at a different booth. The Grand Rapids event ends at noon so please do not show up at noon to go through the stations because we will be tearing down (due to room rental). This is the same for Spring Lake and Traverse City which are ending at 1:30 PM.

4. The most important rule- Have Fun! This event is for your girls to gain skills about cookies and to be proud and excited to be Girl Scouts!

Can't wait to see you all this weekend!

Cookie Materials shipped yesterday + fall incentives updated info

The Cookie Materials shipped out yesterday to the Service Units. So, expect materials to arrive this week.

Also- we are still having issues with Fall Incentives! I spoke with our QSP rep today and received the following updated information....
The following service units were shipped to on:

Dec. 29th-
Whitelake, Orchard View, Fruitport, Grant, River Bend, Kentwood, North Park, 5 Cities, Spring Lake, Zeeland, Evart, Belding/Greenvile, OScala, Onaway, Emmet, Manistee, Kalkaska

Dec. 30th-
Big Rapids, Hudsonville, Forest Hills, Grand River, Grand Traverse, Antrium

Shipping time takes 4 days (plus holidays).

Thanks all.