Themed boxes are a fun way to show you care.Your box can be as elaborate or as symple as you like. They can also be any size. The one I made a while back was just a 5x7 recipe card box that snapped closed. I called it a "Survival Box". It had a thing of chap stick, a small bundle of bandaids, a traval size sunscreen, a traval size bottle of hand sanitizer, a roll of "camping" toilet paper, and a few other small items. I found that the best place to find all these small traval size things where in the traval size items and with the camping stuff at wal-mart. They have all sorts of cute/useful little things. You can have any theme for these boxes that you want. Survival, First Aid, Toy box, Higiene (toothpaste, soap, etc.), Candy box. Your imagination is the only limit you have. I would love to hear how you make this idea your own!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Boxes
Themed boxes are a fun way to show you care.Your box can be as elaborate or as symple as you like. They can also be any size. The one I made a while back was just a 5x7 recipe card box that snapped closed. I called it a "Survival Box". It had a thing of chap stick, a small bundle of bandaids, a traval size sunscreen, a traval size bottle of hand sanitizer, a roll of "camping" toilet paper, and a few other small items. I found that the best place to find all these small traval size things where in the traval size items and with the camping stuff at wal-mart. They have all sorts of cute/useful little things. You can have any theme for these boxes that you want. Survival, First Aid, Toy box, Higiene (toothpaste, soap, etc.), Candy box. Your imagination is the only limit you have. I would love to hear how you make this idea your own!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
OPSEC
What is OPSEC?
Operations Security, or OPSEC, is keeping potential adversaries from discovering our critical information. As the name suggests, it protects our operations – planned, in progress, and those completed. Success depends on secrecy and surprise, so the military can accomplish the mission faster and with less risk. Our adversaries want our information, and they don’t concentrate on only sailors to get it. They want you, the family member.
Protecting Critical Information
Even though information may not be secret, it can be what we call “critical information.” Critical information deals with specific facts about military intentions, capabilities, operations or activities. If an adversary knew this detailed information, our mission accomplishment and personnel safety could be jeopardized. It must be protected to ensure an adversary doesn’t gain a significant advantage. By being a member of the military family, you! u will often know some bits of critical information. Do not discuss them outside of your immediate family and especially not over the telephone.
Examples Of Critical Information
• Detailed information about the mission of assigned units.
• Details on locations and times of unit deployments.
• Personnel transactions that occur in large numbers (Example: pay information, powers of attorney, wills, deployment information).
• References to trends in unit morale or personnel problems.
• Details concerning security procedures.
Puzzle Pieces
These bits of information may seem insignificant. However, to a trained adversary, they are small pieces of a puzzle that highlight what we’re doing and planning. Remember, the elements of security and surprise are vital to the accomplishment of our goals and our collective personnel protection.
• Where and how you discuss this information is just as important as with whom you discuss it. Adverse agents tasked with collecting information frequently visit some of the same stores, clubs, recreational areas, or places of worship as you do.
• Determined individuals can easily collect data from cordless and cellular phones, and even baby monitors, using inexpensive receivers available from local electronics stores.
• If anyone, especially a foreign national, persistently seeks information, notify your military sponsor immediately. He or she will notify the unit OPSEC program manager.What Can You Do?There are many countries and organizations that would like to harm Americans and degrade our influence in the world. It’s possible, and not unprecedented, for spouses and family members of U.S. military personnel to be targeted for intelligence collection. This is true in the United States and especially true overseas!
What can you do?
Be Alert
Foreign governments and organizations collect significant amounts of useful information by using spies. A foreign agent may use a variety of approaches to befriend someone and get sensitive information. This sensitive information can be critical to the success of a terrorist or spy, and consequently deadly to Americans.
Be Careful
There may be times when your spouse cannot talk about the specifics of his or her job. It’s very important to conceal and protect certain information such as flight schedules, ship movements, temporary duty (TDY) locations, and installation activities, for example. Something as simple as a phone discussion about where your spouse is deploying, or going TDY, can be very useful to our enemies.
OPSEC IS A FAMILY AFFAIR - DISCUSS OPSEC WITH YOUR FAMILY
All Family Members Are Part Of The Army’s OPSEC Team. They Need To Protect Information To Ensure The Safety Of All Our Soldiers, Civilians, And Army Families.
You Are A Vital Player In Our Success!
As a family member of our military community, you are! a vital player in our success, and we couldn’t do our job without your support. You may not know it, but you also play a crucial role in ensuring your loved one’s safety. You can protect your family and friends by protecting what you know of the military’s day-to-day operations. That’s OPSEC.
Thank You
Operations Security, or OPSEC, is keeping potential adversaries from discovering our critical information. As the name suggests, it protects our operations – planned, in progress, and those completed. Success depends on secrecy and surprise, so the military can accomplish the mission faster and with less risk. Our adversaries want our information, and they don’t concentrate on only sailors to get it. They want you, the family member.
Protecting Critical Information
Even though information may not be secret, it can be what we call “critical information.” Critical information deals with specific facts about military intentions, capabilities, operations or activities. If an adversary knew this detailed information, our mission accomplishment and personnel safety could be jeopardized. It must be protected to ensure an adversary doesn’t gain a significant advantage. By being a member of the military family, you! u will often know some bits of critical information. Do not discuss them outside of your immediate family and especially not over the telephone.
Examples Of Critical Information
• Detailed information about the mission of assigned units.
• Details on locations and times of unit deployments.
• Personnel transactions that occur in large numbers (Example: pay information, powers of attorney, wills, deployment information).
• References to trends in unit morale or personnel problems.
• Details concerning security procedures.
Puzzle Pieces
These bits of information may seem insignificant. However, to a trained adversary, they are small pieces of a puzzle that highlight what we’re doing and planning. Remember, the elements of security and surprise are vital to the accomplishment of our goals and our collective personnel protection.
• Where and how you discuss this information is just as important as with whom you discuss it. Adverse agents tasked with collecting information frequently visit some of the same stores, clubs, recreational areas, or places of worship as you do.
• Determined individuals can easily collect data from cordless and cellular phones, and even baby monitors, using inexpensive receivers available from local electronics stores.
• If anyone, especially a foreign national, persistently seeks information, notify your military sponsor immediately. He or she will notify the unit OPSEC program manager.What Can You Do?There are many countries and organizations that would like to harm Americans and degrade our influence in the world. It’s possible, and not unprecedented, for spouses and family members of U.S. military personnel to be targeted for intelligence collection. This is true in the United States and especially true overseas!
What can you do?
Be Alert
Foreign governments and organizations collect significant amounts of useful information by using spies. A foreign agent may use a variety of approaches to befriend someone and get sensitive information. This sensitive information can be critical to the success of a terrorist or spy, and consequently deadly to Americans.
Be Careful
There may be times when your spouse cannot talk about the specifics of his or her job. It’s very important to conceal and protect certain information such as flight schedules, ship movements, temporary duty (TDY) locations, and installation activities, for example. Something as simple as a phone discussion about where your spouse is deploying, or going TDY, can be very useful to our enemies.
OPSEC IS A FAMILY AFFAIR - DISCUSS OPSEC WITH YOUR FAMILY
All Family Members Are Part Of The Army’s OPSEC Team. They Need To Protect Information To Ensure The Safety Of All Our Soldiers, Civilians, And Army Families.
You Are A Vital Player In Our Success!
As a family member of our military community, you are! a vital player in our success, and we couldn’t do our job without your support. You may not know it, but you also play a crucial role in ensuring your loved one’s safety. You can protect your family and friends by protecting what you know of the military’s day-to-day operations. That’s OPSEC.
Thank You
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Tips From Kristi (my cousin)
If you want to send tostada's (Sorry I can't spell ) put them in a cookie tin. That way they won't break. Also remember to send the ones that are already sealed, or the post office won't take them.
They have a good size box at the post office and you can send it for $11.00, no matter what country or how heavy. So pack it to the max. (these are called flat rate boxes and they are great!!!!)
Starbursts work just as good as packing peanuts but they are much yummyer.
~Tips from Kristi Cornell~
They have a good size box at the post office and you can send it for $11.00, no matter what country or how heavy. So pack it to the max. (these are called flat rate boxes and they are great!!!!)
Starbursts work just as good as packing peanuts but they are much yummyer.
~Tips from Kristi Cornell~
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Keeping Cool
Things you can send to help keep cool!
Those little battery powered fans. They also have spray bottles with batteries powered fans attached these are nice as well. Make sure you send extra batteries as they will die quickly with lots of use. They may only be able to use these in their rooms or around the FOB but they will still get use.
Neck coolers. They have little beads in them that when soaked in water for a few minutes expand. They tie around your neck and help to keep you cool. You can usually find them at Walgreen's and wal-mart when the weather starts getting warmer.
Bandannas that can be soaked and wrapped on the head beneath the helmet.
Remember to get these things in colors that will blend with the uniform and not stand out.
Keeping in Touch
If you can only talk through written letters a creative way to send a letter is by recording what you would have written on paper on to a cassette tape and sending the tape instead of or with a letter. This way you can hear each other's voices too. (goo rule of thumb here: Never re-listen to your recording... you won't send it if you do. Trust me it always sounds funny replaying your own voice to your self but they will appreciate it.)
You can also make CDs of songs that remind you of them and send those.
If you have the Internet and both have a good connection Skype is great and completely free to call computer to computer then you can see and talk to each other at the same time! Skype (for a fee) also can call land lines and cell phones.
You can send pictures of things going on around you. or if they have a computer send a Cd full of pictures it takes up less room and you can put videos on CDs.
You can also make CDs of songs that remind you of them and send those.
If you have the Internet and both have a good connection Skype is great and completely free to call computer to computer then you can see and talk to each other at the same time! Skype (for a fee) also can call land lines and cell phones.
You can send pictures of things going on around you. or if they have a computer send a Cd full of pictures it takes up less room and you can put videos on CDs.
Few Food Tips
Here are a few tips for sending different foods and some foods you may not have thought of sending.
Believe it or not if packed right Chips and Salsa ship really well. Just make sure you pack it so the jar doesn't break and the chips don't get crushed.
Keep cookies moist by packing one or two pieces of bread in with them weather in a bag or tin. If in a bag try to get as much air out as you can.
Most foreign countries do not have peanut butter or oreos the person away may not think about it but if it is a snack they liked at home every now and then then they will love you for it while they are away because it is likely they can't get it there.
If the place you are sending things is Hot or humid do not send hard candies or chocolate if it is Iraq in the middle of their summer no matter how you pack it it will melt.
Sending little toys or hardy candies (in the not colder seasons) for them to share with little kids goes a long way no matter where they are. Kids love to get candy or little parachute men!
If you have something chocolate (i.e. Candy bars, etc.) and it is going to a hotter climate. Try to choose a cooler month but if you must send it in a hotter month try this.... get a box a little bigger than your chocolate. Place a piece of Styrofoam on the bottom, a frozen ice pack (not a bag full of ice.. an ICE PACK) on top of that, your chocolate, another ice pack, and one more piece of Styrofoam. If you don't have big pieces of Styrofoam lying around you can use packing peanuts. The Styrofoam helps hold the cold in, the ice packs don't leak and keep it cold and if you keep it packed fairly tight it should all arrive safe and unmelted.
Remember when your sending packages out if they have bunk mates, roommates, or just friends that are around constantly they are bound to share whats in the package so send enough to share.
I have also sent a favorite soda before I just made sure it was packed carefully and then he waited a few days before he opened any just in case they got shaken while moving... I sent glass bottles of soda if sent this way instead of cans and sent with paper towels they can place the paper towel over the twist top and the soda leaks less if it has been shaken too much. Remember if you are sending drinks to a deployed soldier alcohol is usually off limits and they will get in major trouble for having any sent to them.
Licorice, granola bars, flavored drink mixes, microwavable meals that only require water and a microwave (if they have access to a microwave), fruit roll ups, fruit leather, and fruit snacks all ship well.
Traval Pillow
Okay so the pictures of the pillow I made are not the best but you get the idea. If you click on the images you can make it bigger and see the pillow a little better.
Supplies:
Pillow or Cotton stuffing
1 or 2 patterns of fabric measured to pillow size (should not need more than 1/2 a yard of each)
Scissors
Sewing needle and/or sewing machine
Thread in the color of fabric
TIME
Optional:
Optional:
Computer
Printer
Fabric printer paper
Instructions: This is a more time consuming project. Between work, visits home, and other obligations it took me close to a month to finish mine but if I had all the things I needed in one place and 5-7 days of nothing to do I probably could have finished it in less than a week. Why travel pillows? Because they have enough to carry around with them. Travel pillows are small squishy and take up very little room, they also may good travel pillows no matter how they are traveling.
Tip: if sewing by hand to end a line of thread so it will not come undone. Go through your last 2 needle wholes 4-5 times then tie a double knot in the middle of the built up thread. This should keep it from coming undone.
1. Buy a pre-made travel size pillow (I got mine at wal-mart) They often sell pillow cases with these, you don't need one, but get one that can be washed in a washing machine. Or you can decide how big you want the pillow and buy Cotton stuffing instead of a pillow. Choose one or two fabrics to make either side of your pillow. 1/2 a yard for each side (1 yard if only one fabric) should be more than enough to cover these small travel pillows.
2. Measure your pillow's sides and cut your fabric 2 inches bigger than your pillow. Turn the "colorful" or outsides in towards each other so that both sides show the "dull" side out.
3. Sew by hand or machine 1/2 an inch in from edge on 3 sides of your fabric together. This will leave you with a pouch. 3 sides Swen together and one open.
Optional: Find a picture you like print it out on your fabric paper. Follow the pre-wash instructions on the paper's box. (That way when you sew it on it is safe to wash and won't bleed into your fabric.) Turn your pouch inside out so that the bright colors show, this is the outside of your pillow. Cut out your picture and hand or machine sew your picture(s) on to your fabric. Make sure you sew all edges down, any loose or long edges could curl or tear over time. Be sure also not to sew it through both fabrics other wise your pillow/stuffing won't fit in.
If pillow 4. If you have a pillow place it inside your pouch now then turn in 1/2 an inch of fabric (so you get a nice clean edge) and sew the end shut 1/2 an inch in from edge.
If stuffing 4. (If you did optional step turn pillow back outside in.) Sew open end closed leaving a 2-3 inch hole to put the stuffing in. Turn pillow inside out so the brighter colors "the outside" of your pillow is showing. Fill the pillow with stuffing, As much or as little as you like. When done stuffing turn the open hole in to match the rest of the edge. Sew hole closed. I find it easiest to sew this hole by hand.
You can drench it with perfume or wash it in your detergent or sleep with it for a week or two before you send it to make it smell like you... or you can do all of the above. I slept with mine I also took a few pictures (as you can see above) of me with it so that he could see that I had made it and slept with it before sending it. This is a great little gift to send missionaries or soldiers who are away. These are also safe to put in the washing machine as long as you followed the instructions on your picture paper and sewed everything down tight enough that the threads don't come loose.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Tie Blankets: How too...
Friday, April 24, 2009
Tie Blankets: How too...
These are so fun and so easy! Depending on how big the blanket is and wether you have an extra set of helping hands or not it only takes 1-2 hours from start to finish.
Supply list:
sissors
ruler
2 yards of fleece fabric in pattern 1
2 yards of fleece fabric in pattern 2 (or more of pattern one)
flat surface (table, hard wood floor, etc.)
5. Now deside. Do you want long skinny ties, short stubby ties, long thick ties, or short thik ties. I usually like the long thin or long thick ties becouse they are easier to tie. Useing a ruler or just your eye you will cut strips of fabric (like fringe) around the whole blanket, through both pieces of fabric so they match. The 4 corners will have a square cut out of them, the same lengthe as the strips.long thin ties: 1/2" thick by 3-4" in lenghtlong thick ties: 2" thick by 3-4" in length for shorter use same thickness as above but cut 2-3" long(see my blog for a picture)
In the end the blanket may have a few naturally bunched places that cannot be fixed this is okay it is the nature of the blanket. These blankets can be washed with no special instructions. Over time the ties will roll and wither a little but if tied tight when made the blanket should last for years to come. If you have any other questions about making these warm fuzzy blankets plaese feel free to ask! I would love to see how yours turns out! They have so many fabrics to choose from!
Tie Blankets: How too...
These are so fun and so easy! Depending on how big the blanket is and wether you have an extra set of helping hands or not it only takes 1-2 hours from start to finish.
Supply list:
sissors
ruler
2 yards of fleece fabric in pattern 1
2 yards of fleece fabric in pattern 2 (or more of pattern one)
flat surface (table, hard wood floor, etc.)
1. Go to your local wal-mart craft section or fabric store and pick out 1-2 fleece fabrics. They must be the fleece matirial or it won't work. You can choose one pattern and get enough for both sides or you can get two diffrent patterns for the 2 diffrent sides. The ones pictured on my page are 2 yards of each fabric but you can go bigger or smaller. Another thing to keep in mind is some fleece fabrics are sold by the pannal or the picture rather than by the yard. If you choose a pannal with a picture and one with out get enough fabric in pattern to fit the picture.
2.Take fabrics home. You may need to trim off any exsess white on the edge of your fabric but this step is not requierd since the edges will be cut any way. It is all up to you.
3. Lay one fabric face down on a flat surrface. Lay your secound fabric face up on top of it. (remember the sides together will not bee seen so be sure the right sides are faceing the outside.) You want to line the 2 fabrics up as close as possible on the edges.
4. Look at all edges and trim off any exces fabric so that the edges are even.
The picture below shows the 4 cornners cut out and one side in strips.
The picture below shows the 4 cornners cut out and one side in strips.
5. Now deside. Do you want long skinny ties, short stubby ties, long thick ties, or short thik ties. I usually like the long thin or long thick ties becouse they are easier to tie. Useing a ruler or just your eye you will cut strips of fabric (like fringe) around the whole blanket, through both pieces of fabric so they match. The 4 corners will have a square cut out of them, the same lengthe as the strips.long thin ties: 1/2" thick by 3-4" in lenghtlong thick ties: 2" thick by 3-4" in length for shorter use same thickness as above but cut 2-3" long(see my blog for a picture)
6. After cutting the strips go back and tie them together. Each strip should have a strip from one fabric and one from the secound fabric. You want to double tie these together so they don't come apart. Just two simple over hand knots work great! As you tie you may notice the side bunching together. To fix this all you have to do is grab one side of the bunch and the other and pull them apart. You may hear a ripping sound thats okay. Pull until the fabric is straight again. You can do one side as you get it cut or cut the whole blanket and go back and tie.
In the end the blanket may have a few naturally bunched places that cannot be fixed this is okay it is the nature of the blanket. These blankets can be washed with no special instructions. Over time the ties will roll and wither a little but if tied tight when made the blanket should last for years to come. If you have any other questions about making these warm fuzzy blankets plaese feel free to ask! I would love to see how yours turns out! They have so many fabrics to choose from!
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