For the Love of a Soldier

Deployment Gifts

2011-10-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.oursevendwarfs.com/2011/09/deployment-gifts.html

From Kristi

The Bad Day Box

2011-04-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

Sent by Sydney Davis and Army GF

For when the going gets tough out there.

1.Get a box, doesn't matter what size or shape.
2. Fill the box with uplifting letters, pictures of loved ones, memories that will make them laugh, love coupons, things they loved as a child (like old type candies that keep and little toys or pictures of them.

Sydney said she went to his mother and asked her what kind of thing he liked as a child and included pictures of when he was little. The letters told all the ways she loved him and of good memories she had with him, she wrote one as if she was telling a friend about him. A "you know I met this great guy!" letter. You can include videos that show you (or your children) having fun or sending special feel good messages just for him. Sydney also put all her letters/ pictures and notes in individual envelopes. She also sent a can and on the out side wrote "If your having a bad day, Remember this, I love you!" and taped her picture to the can too.
The kids either favorite nieces and nephews or his own children can draw pictures, write letters, or make cards to go in it too.
Sydney also made coupons for her BF that where for things they could do when he got home and "get out of the dog house free" coupons for the man that occasionally get into trouble.

3. After you have filled the box completely place an envelope either at the top of the box where he is sure to see it first or tape it to the outside and on the outside of it write "READ ME FIRST!" In this envelope the letter needs to lay out 2 rules.
1. "The box is not to be opened unless he is having a bad day."
2. "Only take out a few things at once." so that there are others for future bad days.

Thank you so much for this GREAT idea Sydney! I have known several soldiers who have lost GF, wives, or loved ones while on deployment and could have used one of these boxes from their wives, mothers, or family members. What a great idea!

On The Home Front

2011-01-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

Some things you can do at home with your kids or by yourself to help the time pass.

1. Count down chain.
Do you remember Christmas when you where little and you would make count down chains at school and take them home? Same idea. Chose 2 or more colors of construction paper. Cut into 365 strips (more or less depending on the length of time your soldier is to be deployed) and glue into a chain. This can be a fun thing to do by yourself or with your children to watch the papers come off day by day until your loved one comes home. The only problem with this is that deployments are unpredictable and can often be lengthened and shorted repeatedly during the deployment. Make sure you explain this to your children so that if you get to the end of the chain and mommy/daddy are still not home they don't freak out. You being the parent are also capable of adding or subtracting links as necessary after the kids have gone to bed to make the chain accurate to daily changes. For those waiting on a Mormon Missionary the church book stores usually have countdown charts where you fill in a bubble every day till the missionary comes home, these are a little more accurate and unchanging than deployments.

2. Write a journal.
Especially if you have children, take a moment at the end of each day as you are winding down and getting ready for bed. Sit down and write in a journal. Write what you all did that day, write down what your children want your loved one to know about that day and how they feel at that moment, good or bad, happy or sad, a journal with all those things will be something your soldier can go back and read, something your children or you can go back and read, and something that can help you and your children get through future deployments by looking back and seeing how it felt last time.

3. Prepare for your soldiers return.
While my soldier was gone Christmas wasn't Christmas so I celebrated else where and my home went undecorated but with the extra money the deployment gave us I went on a Christmas shopping spree after Christmas when everything was on sale for all the decorations we would need to decorate for the year he would be home.

4. Find something to do.
Weather your children are young or old in school or not find something you enjoy doing OUTSIDE of your home. This can be a college course, a fitness class, going for a walk, going to the park, going to the gym, visiting a friend. Any thing you enjoy take at least one day a week and get out of your house, no matter what. This will help with the loneliness and isolation. GET OUT! This is SO important. If you can possibly find someone to watch the kids once a week for an hour do so. You need a break! It's hard to do it alone no matter how old your kids are or even if your kids are animals. Get out and go to lunch, do something with some one. This is the one thing that will save your sanity.

5. Find a friend.
Not just any friend. Find someone who knows what you are going through. Find another military spouse that has a deployed spouse at the same time (there are a ton of them at any given time) yes you will get on each others nerves sometimes because deployments are emotionally draining but as long as you are the kind of friend that you want to have you'll get through the hard times. It never seems that civilians know what you are going through and Spouses who's soldier has returned are a bit out of touch both physically and emotionally. My husband has returned and I will be the first to admit that when James got home I didn't want to talk to anyone and wanted to spend all my time with him, I will also admit that my joy over having him home has tainted my memory of what it was like while he was gone. It doesn't seem as bad now as it felt it was then. So make a friend of some one some where who is in the same position as you. My "Battle buddy" lived on the other side of the country from me but most nights she was my saving grace. I don't know how I would have gotten through that deployment without her.

6. Remember "It will end"
Deployments do not last forever and better times are ahead. Unless the unspoken unthinkable happens which I pray never happens to you or me, This deployment will come to an end and your soldier will come home. Stay positive. Always remind yourself that, This will end and your soldier WILL come home. My soldier and a friend reminded me of this often. "IT HAS COME TO PASS." This trial has come and it too shall pass. Stay positive and strong for your soldier and yourself.

Last 7. It's okay to cry
Being strong is good but it is also okay to cry. Be it a few minutes in your living room or crying yourself to sleep wearing your soldiers shirt and hugging the teddy bear they gave you. It is always okay to cry because this is painful, but if you can make it through this, you can make it through ANYTHING!

MOPS

2010-10-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

From my cousin Kristi who dose this with her kids:

Encourage Military Moms and Their Families

A Little Love and Creativity Goes a Long Way

David, whose father is in the U.S. Air Force, is an elementary school student. His father deployed for the fifth time in July 2010 for six months. David received a KidsLink Card Kit, and he said: “[I'm going to write Dad] stuff that's interesting that's happened to me that I can't really tell him otherwise … I never got to talk to him when he was out in the desert [before] except once every two months, so it's going to be nice, ... [and] also he can write back. So it's going to be helpful a lot."

Last spring, over 250 MOPS groups were a part of creating over 5,300 KidsLink Downrange Card Kits for children of deployed military personnel. Those kits were distributed to five different U.S. military installations around the U.S. and one in Germany. Now your MOPS group can be a part of expanding this project again to reach out to more families!

KidsLink Downrange is a project from MOPS and Cadence International to support and encourage military moms and their families. MOPS groups can make card kits that contain everything a child needs to write to his or her deployed parent throughout the year, as well as other resources in the area. These kits will be delivered to children at multiple US military bases worldwide this coming spring.

Here is this year’s schedule!

September-October 2010: Your MOPS group pledges a number of kits
December 2010: You’re advised where to ship your finished
kits (via email and on kidslinkonline.org
website)
January-February 2011: Your group makes card kits
February 15-March 15, 2011: Your group ships your kits to the advised
location (no earlier than Feb. 15 and no
later than March 15)
April-June 2011: Card kits are distributed to military kids

Now is the time to pledge how many kits you will make for this year’s project so…

Be a Link and Pledge!

Want to know more? Watch this video, then pledge the number of card kits your group will create and send to military kids.

http://www1.mops.org/web/email_blast/email_blast_web.php?appeal_code=mim100925kld&email=kristilaroo@yahoo.com

Hey, I'm Back Sorta....

2010-08-03T11:24:00.001-07:00

Hey all! I know I have been gone a while but the hubby is home and we have been moving and working. Things are still a little crazy esp. with my comp going down on me and trying to get back in shape.

The other reason I have not posted in a while is because I am running out of ideas when I am not sending packages out everyday. Now my days are filled with occupying myself and my daughter waiting for my husband to come home from work. If any one has any ideas please let me know. I will try to get some more ideas and put them up soon. Thank you for staying with me!

Operation: Hi Honey/Mom

2010-04-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

My cousin Kristi gave me a wonderful site that puts your beautiful family pictures on Canvas. It makes a great anniversery gift or mother's day gift for those back home. Just click HERE to find the web site. Opperation Hi Mom awards 1 free canvas print to soldiers over seas to be sent to thier mothers on mother's day and operation Hi Honey does the same for thier spouses back home on thier anniversery. Now not everyone will automatically recive a photo just by being a deployed member so make sure you read the Honey Directions here and the mom ones here (sorry couldn't find the mom link :( )

Welcome Home Banners

2010-03-10T10:20:00.000-08:00

www.buildasign.com/Troops This site has done several give aways for military families to welcome home there troops. the banner above and the one below are the ones that welcomed my husband home for R&R. I payed (I think) $30-45 total for both banners. My husband had to drive from NM to AZ so the above banner was on his jeep at his folks place and he had a bag full of everything he would need to stay the night in NM if necessary. the lower banner was hung on the wall of our home, it would have been hung outside if not for the mass amount of snow we received.

Rcordable Books

2010-01-14T10:17:00.000-08:00

For Christmas I bought a recordable book from Hallmark they are about $30. I shipped it to my husband who read and recorded the story and sent it back for my daughter so he could read her a bed time story every night. They have 3 different ones. "All the ways I love you", "Bright and Beautiful", and at Christmas time they have "the night before Christmas" Ask for them at your local Hallmark store and make sure you do this well in advance of the occasion (Christmas/Birthday/etc.) It took one week for the book to get there then he had to get the time to record, repack, and ship it back to me and then it took over 2 weeks for me to receive it, so plan ahead.

Holiday Packages

2010-01-06T14:57:00.000-08:00

Birthdays:

For birthdays you can got to the dollar store and get a bunch of fun little toys like army men, little planes, party hats, signs, blowers, streamers, any little fun toys that they will enjoy and find silly but that can also be tossed to children along with candy as they travel along roads and go out on missions. You can send a box of hostess cupcakes or Twinkies along with a box of candles so they can blow them out and make their wish. I say hostess cupcakes because they are individually packaged, won't go bad or get Stael in the mail and the frosting won't get every where if the box is tossed around. Send a singing card and maybe even a video for them to watch of every one back home wishing them a happy Birthday. You can also send a few real gifts wrapped in birthday wrapping paper. I sent James a new game for his PSP. Remember not to send things they can't use or things that are very large. Large things tend to be left behind and things they can't use will eventually just have to be sent back. If you want to get them something they can use when they get home take a picture, put it in an envelope and send it rather than the gift it's self.

Anniversaries:
For our Anniversary I sent champagne glass (still in it's box) a personalized (small) bottle of sparkling apple cider completely covered in 2-3 layers of bubble wrap, a flame less candle air freshener, a card, and his gift wrapped in white wrapping paper. His gift was a very expensive watch that he had been wanting for a few years now and could use there.Christmas:

For Christmas once again little dollar store toys and candies are great and can be tossed to children on missions and on the road. Home made goodies are Perfect for this time of year even chocolate can usually make it safely to the recipient because it is much cooler. I made my husband and his roommate each a tie blanket because they kept complaining of the cold nights. The blankets where the perfect fix. James' roommate got a small set of whittling knives because he enjoys whittling, James got another video game. I also sent things for them to decorate their room with. You can get window stickers, door covers, even decorating a small 1 foot tree, decorating it, and sending it in Bubble wrap works great. I got the miniature stockings and filled them with coal (chocolate), candy canes, and a small toy or you can send a full sized stocking.

New Years:

For New Years you can send hats, goofy glasses, party poppers, and anything to help bring in a happy new year.

Shopping List for Care Packages

2009-08-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

Here are a few sugestions of things to send your soldier. Edit for your soldier's needs and likes. As far as wipes my husbad LOVES the traval pack huggies wipes. They come in a plastic bag with a flip top and you can find them at almost any store that sells baby whipes. James says these work the best, they are soft on skin, and very portable.

Food Items
Tuna/Chicken/Salmon–foil pouches
Vienna Sausage–small pop-top cans
Jerky–small packages
Protein Bars
Granola Bars
Sunflower/Pumpkin Seeds & Nuts
Trail Mix
Coffee Singles
Instant Oatmeal
Dried Fruit (Raisins, etc.)
Fruit–in pop-top cans/cups
Fruit Rollups
Green Chili/Small Cans or Bags
Candies–individually wrapped
Chewing Gum
Microwave Popcorn
Pop Tarts
Shelf-Stable Microwavable Items
Single-serving Drink Mix Tubes (Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, etc.)
Tea Bags
Individual Green Tea bags or tubes
Single serving packs of coffee
Pringles
Home made cookies and treats

Toiletries (travel size):
Bath Soap
Shampoo
Conditioner
White Tube Socks (New)
Wash cloths (New)
Small hand towels (New)
Dental Floss
Deodorant
Disposable Razors
Kleenex
Lip Balm
Lotion
Mouthwash
Foot Powder
Sunscreen
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Q-tips
Emery boards, nail clippers, tweezers
Wet Wipes travel size
Insect Repellent (NO AEROSOL)
Shave GEL (NO AEROSOL)

Other
Pens & Pencils
Pocket Word/Math Game Books
Zipper Bags (sandwich, snack, and quart-size)
Gloves
White Tube Socks
Wash cloths
Small hand towels
Bounce dryer sheets
Disposable cameras

Your Thoughts.

2009-08-21T15:56:00.000-07:00

I am thinking about adding things you can do at home to keep yourself and or your children busy while your spouse is away. If you this is something you would be interested in please leave a comment and tell me so. If I get 5 replys or more I will begin posting not only package ideas but also ideas for yourself and your children. Please let me know!

U.S. Postal Service

2009-08-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

The U.S, Postal service provides package materials free of charge to this wishing to send packages to out military personal, go here for more information. If you Call (800) 610-8734 and ask for Care kit 4 they will send you:

1. 10 boxes

2. 10 customs forms with envelopes

3. 10 "Mili-Pac" shipping envelopes which are specially printed to reflect the complexities of military mailing addresses

4. a roll of Priority Mail tape

The Army Wives Dream Come True!

2009-08-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know what you have heard but this program is a dream come true! With Skype all you need is a microphone, a computer, a web connection, and a web cam! You can get a head set with a microphone for $8 at wall mart, you can get a web cam at walmart for $10+ depending on how nice of one you want! As far as the Internet and computer go i would hope you already have them to communicate with your loved one. Skype is FREE! When you want to talk to and see your loved one at the same time Skype is the perfect solution. Like anything else you should both have a decent connection for it to work right. I have had experienced delays, dropped calls, and a few complications but i wouldn't trade it for anything it is second best to my husband being home. The only cost Skype charges is to call land lines or cell phones. Anything computer to computer is free. Just go to the web site, http://www.skype-official.com/, download, create your identity, tell your loved one to do the same thing, add each other to your contact lists and start talking, face to face, for FREE!!!! Have fun!!!!

Great Ideas!

2009-08-11T15:42:00.001-07:00

My Army wife girl Nikki gave me a few more GREAT ideas! Boots and shoes that are worn a lot get really stinky! So Nikki said to send......

Yes that's right! Dryer sheets.... have your man/woman switch out pairs of boots... wear one pair then when you take them off put a dryer sheet in each one, wear your other pair of boots then switch! Also another great dryer sheet idea is as an air freshener! Nikki says her husband stuffs a few dryer sheets in the ac slats and it acts as an air freshener, if you send 2 different scents then they can switch them out once a week to make that smelly man room smell just a bit better, and it doesn't take up an outlet!

Drinks

2009-08-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

My husband loves water but drinking water 24/7 gets old fast. I still want him hydrated and not drinking soda all the time make up for lack of flavor so I send him the water bottle drink mixes! Lemonade, hi-c, gatoraid, coolaid! He loves it because he is still getting water but it is flavored! Only problem is he seems to go through them pretty quickly lol.

Other Ways to Spice Up a Room

2009-08-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

You can send small rugs or carpets so when they get out of the bed in the morning they don't have to put their feet down on a cold floor.

Send actually pictures and some scotch tape so they can put pictures on the wall.

send colorful sheets/pillow cases. something cozy from home to brighten up a white room.

The most important thing to remember when you send these thing is go cheep! Send things that your loved one can use but can leave there for another soldier or toss when he comes home. It is nice for some of these little luxuries to be passed on so don't spend too much and don't expect it to come home, this includes curtains, toys, sheets, etc. Remember BE CREATIVE!

Creativity

2009-08-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

There is nothing better than Creativity! Solutions for privacy! One this can be used to hide rooms you don't want seen that don't have doors, to divide a room for a little more privacy or to section off a room so there seems to be two!

My Army wife sister Nikki sent her hubby a curtain and shower rod, he had two cabinets one on either side of his room he placed the curtain on the rod and put it up between the two cabinets making a door way for his bed area. that way if someone came in the door there was privacy in the bed room area.

My husband also wants privacy with his roommate. So I sent him a 20 ft. length of rope, some hooks that screw into the wall, and a couple of curtains to hang across the room to create a seance of their own space and some privacy.

shower/window curtain (none see through)= $10-$20
shower rod (spring or twist)= $5-$15
length of rope= $10
wall hooks= $5
A happy hubby= Priceless

Toy Box

2009-08-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

My husband and his roommate happened to mention that they where board and had very little to do... Well Wal-mart has this great section within the toy section that contains a ton of random little toys for only a dollar! So I got him and his roommate each little air plane launchers, and disc shooters, and race cars, and a few card games, just a lot of little things that little kids have fun with that when board enough these big strong grown men soldiers will see and automatically turn into little boys and have the time of their lives with! I call it a boardum box. a bunch of little things to help pass the time when there isn't much to do :)

Sorry/ Helping the Children

2009-06-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

I apologize for taking so long to post but I have a good excuse! I was having a baby! She is healthy she is beautiful and a perfect angel... so far! She was born June 2, 2009 at 0858. 8lbs 13 oz and 21 1/2 inches long. Any way for new ideas:

I was given these web sites by my FRG person:

http://www.operationgiveahug.org/

This is an group that makes dolls with picture windows for the children of deployed parents so that the children have something to hold on to while mommy or daddy is away.

there is also another group who puts a picture of your military member (in uniform) on a pillow for military children with deployed parents. They will send one for every child. They will also send with it a note that states how much shipping and handling was and would like that price returned to them after you receive the pillows but it is not required... The contact info to request these is:
981 Timber Glen Lane
Ballwin, Missouri 63021-6069
Questions may be directed to the above mailing address,
(314) 607-2607 or jmadconst41-pillows@yahoo.com

There are many good causes you can donate to to help the soldiers and their families left behind. If you like this information and would like me to put up more causes please comment and let me know and I will put up more!

Boxes

2009-05-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

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!

OPSEC

2009-05-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

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

Tips From Kristi (my cousin)

2009-05-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

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~

Keeping Cool

2009-05-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

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.

Few Food Tips

2009-05-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

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:

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.

Tie Blankets: How too...

2009-05-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

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.)

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.

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!

Posted by *~Brittnee~* at 10:18