★Care Packages - Here are some Ideas★

I can't even begin to count the number of care packages I have made over the past 10yrs. Not only did I make them during my husbands 4 deployments, but I also sent him packages during AIT. Those packages didn't contain as much as the deployment ones, but they were still appreciated.

When my husband was in AIT I was always baking him brownies and cookies. Not just a little bit either! I made enough for him to share with his class. They all looked forward to it. Home made goodies while away from home was a treat. (*Tip* Let your baked good cool completely before sealing up to ship off.)

One thing that is a must for your packages is the boxes, right? Of course!! A lot of people like to use the flat rate boxes. You can order them online and have them brought directly to your home so that you have them when you need them -
Order your Free Shipping Kit

For me, a lot of times, I would just get a big box from WalMart because of how much I would ship at once. It came out cheaper for me because of the number of flat rate boxes I would need.

*Tip* If you're going to ship canned goods, I would use the flat rate boxes. You pay one price, no matter the weight.

Here are some basic things your loved one might need in a care package:
(Depending where they are, they may have access to a small PX where they can get these items themselves)
*Toothpaste *Deodorant *Soap *Powder *Lotion *Baby Wipes *Sunscreen *Shampoo *Sanitary products for females *Shaving Cream/razors

The packages I made for husband contained some personal hygiene items and his favorite snacks and canned goods. I also sent him sheets, a good pillow, his favorite team blanket and really whatever he asked for.

You can do theme packages too for some fun and variety.

One Christmas I sent my husband a big box full of Christmas stuff. I included Christmas cards for all his soldiers, a small Christmas tree w/ decorations in the color of his favorite football team, a singing Santa, and edible Christmas goodies.

For Valentine's Day, we sent him some of his favorite candy, some heart confetti and a big cheesy Valentine Bear with valentine's from the kids.

For Easter we made him his own Easter Basket and filled it with goodies.

Do the same for each Holiday...you can also do sports themed ones for something random. Put different balls in there for them to toss around on free time, a dvd collection of sports funniest moments, a jersey to hang in their room and a sexy pic of you in the jersey =)

A summertime package can have a variety of small water guns, some lei's, bubbles, sunscreen, and water balloons.

You can make a sexy "I miss you" package. Fill it with candy hearts & lips. Buy a new pair of sexy panties, spray them with your perfume and put them in a ziplock baggie for him... add some "love coupons" for him to cash in when he gets home. Write him a naughty poem or story and sign it with a your kiss.

Here are some websites for more ideas:
AWN - Care Packages
Military Moms At Home - Care Packages
Great Ideas For U.S. Soldiers Care Packages

Here is a great Facebook Page that does Care Packages:
Miss Your Voice Care Packages

Have fun with it and do it with love =)

Man Cave - First Home Party Company for men - 10% goes to the troops for Father's Day!

We know all about all the different at home party companies that us women do and attend. Well, I received something about Man Cave, the first at home party for men, in my email.

They have recently partnered with Operation Gratitude to give 10% of sales for the 2nd Quarter to the troops for Father's Day!! Read -->>HERE<<-- for more info!

Shop their website for your "man" and his "man cave" or have your Man book a party! It's a win/win situation. The man in your life gets something great and money goes to the troops =)

*I get nothing for "promoting" Man Cave. I am sharing b/c I think it's great*

Thanks "Here's to the Heroes" - Busch Gardens

A few days ago the kids and I went to Busch Gardens with some friends. We got in Free thanks to "Here's to the Heroes". We used our complimentary single day admission.

I had never been to Busch Gardens and was really excited to go! I loved it and the kids had a blast too.

"Here's to the Heroes" gives single day admissions, once a year, to service members and their dependents. Check out the link for more info!!

Here are some pics from our day:

The Shooting of Trayvon Martin - My thoughts...

I've decided to do a little "research", the best I can, and share it here along with my opinion after looking over all my "research".

I listened to the 911 call from Zimmerman and clearly got the following:
1. in the 911 tape Zimmerman says he thinks Martin is on drugs and Martin has his hand in his waste band...that something is wrong with Martin... and Martin has something in his hands...
2. Zimmerman says Martin is coming towards him and then he says Martin is running the other direction ...and the 911 guys says "are you following him?" and Zimmerman says yes and the 911 guy says not to follow him

So, from that I gather Zimmerman saw Martin, thought he looked suspicious and called 911, gave a description of Martin along with implying he was on drugs and he might have a weapon and that something was "wrong" with him. From this alone, the police would have probably approached him aggressively because Zimmerman made it sound worse than what he originally said when he first called 911 that "this guy looks suspicious".

Eye Witness account: Mary Cutcher
She is one of 6 witnesses and the cops never questioned her fully until she kept calling them. She said this happened in her back yard, that she heard a boy crying and the gun went off and the crying stopped. She said they came out and asked what was going on and was everything okay and Zimmerman said to call the cops. She said Martin looked to be half of Zimmerman's size. She also said she saw Zimmerman straddling Martin's body with his hands pressed on his back, making no effort to aid him.

According to Zimmerman:
"Martin decked him with a single punch, then repeatedly slammed his head into the sidewalk."
He claims he shot Martin in self-defense.

Other witnesses say:
"At least one witness told police he saw Martin pounding Zimmerman"
"Reports had surfaced earlier of people hearing cries for help but it was not clear if they came from Zimmerman or Martin"
"A woman who said she and her roommate witnessed the last moments of Martin's life said they heard the voice of what sounded like a young person in distress just before hearing a gunshot"

Now, this is my opinion and it is simply gathered from what I have read and listened to.

I don't know and I'm not going to assume it is some kind of hate crime because Martin is black. We don't KNOW if it has anything to do with race. However, in this video, at 2:20, right before the 911 dispatcher asks is Zimmerman following him, it sounds to me like Zimmerman whispers to himself "fucking coons". - VIDEO HERE - 911 CALL

My opinion is that Zimmerman was simply an overzealous neighborhood watch guy who was determined not to let this "asshole" get away. ((I say that b/c in the call to 911 Zimmerman says "these assholes are always getting away" - in no way am I saying Martin was an asshole))

Some questions of mine... People in the neighborhood watch program are to watch and call police with suspicious activity, correct? Yes..as Zimmerman did. HOWEVER, is part of neighborhood watch following "suspects"? If you are told NOT TO FOLLOW, why do you continue to follow? AND do those a part of neighborhood watch normally walk around armed? Why was Zimmerman carrying a gun to begin with while on neighborhood watch duty?

I personally think that Zimmerman was tired of crime in this neighborhood and was determined to get someone, anyone... I think the same would have happened had it been a White boy, a Hispanic boy or even a little Russian girl...he was out for vigilante justice in my opinion.

And, why shoot him in the chest? The boy was unarmed. Why not shoot him in the leg or arm?

The facts that I know to be true:
Zimmerman called the police on suspicious behavior.
Zimmerman chased Martin and was told to stop following him.
At some point in time there was a scuffle between the two.
A boy is dead.

Zimmerman should have NEVER went after him after being told not to follow. He is completely at fault here b/c he should have let the cops do their job.

Zimmerman clearly broke neighborhood watch rules:

Chris Tutko, director of Neighborhood Watch for the National Sheriffs’ Association, said Zimmerman broke some cardinal rules.

First, he approached a stranger he suspected of wrongdoing.

“If you see something suspicious, you report it, you step aside and you let law enforcement do their job,” Tutko said. “This guy went way beyond the call of duty. At the least, he’s overzealous.”

Second, Zimmerman carried a handgun. Police departments and sheriff’s offices that train volunteers advise them never to carry weapons — though Zimmerman broke no laws by doing so because he has a concealed-weapons permit.

“There’s no reason to carry a gun,” Tutko said. - source

Here is a Timeline of the events - Trayvon Martin Case: Timeline of Events

You decide for yourself...

Green Cupcakes for St. Patty's Day - I heard they were delish!!

My daughters teacher asked if any parents would like to do something "green" for snack time last week & this week b/c they were celebrating St. Patty's Day. I volunteered to do green cupcakes... Alexis said they were yummy!

The night before I had went and bought some green food coloring and THOUGHT I had everything else... well the morning I was to bring them in, I saw I still needed ONE egg lol... I went to 3 different Shoppettes to get eggs! They really should keep more in stock for people like me who only need one =) Thankfully I got some eggs and got the cupcakes to the school with 15mins to spare =)

What kind of foods do you make for special times of the year?

ACU Bags and Wallets by HollyBelle' Bags

If you're looking for an ACU bag, check out ACU Bags and Wallets by HollyBelle' Bags . Her stuff is beautiful and she is super sweet!!

I first learned of Holly when I competed in a referral contest for her. The prize was an ACU wallet and I won. I got to choose the color of my trim and for those who know, I'm sure you can guess I chose purple. I got my wallet and loved it..that was when I decided, after 9yrs of being an army wife, to get an ACU purse to use as my "Scentsy Brag Bag".

Here is my wallet and purse:

Then, at Christmas time, she was making cute little ACU ornaments and I thought it would be neat to get one for each post we've been to so far and I'll continue to get one each time we PCS.

And now today I went and picked up my key chain she made for me to match my purse & wallet =)

If you're looking for something like this, Holly is your gal!!
ACU Bags and Wallets by HollyBelle' Bags