Milk & Cookies Care Package

There are few things my precious Sarge loves more than milk and cookies. Very, very few. Today he received my latest care package -- milk and cookies! I saw a pin on Pinterest, but there was no link attached to the photo. It was just those milk cartons that you buy near the dry milk and cookies. An entire care package. What a stinkin' great  idea!

Those milk cartons aren't cheap at seven bucks (or more) per six pack. It's organic, I suppose, but I think it has something to do with that ultrahigh temperature (UHT) processing myself. People go back and forth over the UHT processing, which kills bacteria, caramelizes some of the milk sugars (making it slightly sweeter than regular milk) and stabilizes the milk for a longer shelf life. It weirds me out, but milk weirds me out so whatever. Anyways, he's in Afghanistan and he'll only get 12 boxes of the stuff so who cares. Everyone gets so uptight these days. 

But I digress. 

The other thing I had to look up was how to ship cookies. I chose to make oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies. Can we just pause so I can tell you how much I love baking cookies? I'm not a great baker -- mine hardly ever come out the same -- but I love the mixing, and the scooping... and the warm cookies that come out of the oven. And now I'm hungry again.

Sending chocolate chip was taking a risk because we never know what temperatures they'll pass through on the journey to the 'Stan. I sent them anyway. Afghanistan is getting cooler this time of year and I used mini chocolate chips so it wouldn't make too much of a mess. Tos send cookies, you want to pack them snugly and wrap up 3- or 4-cookie bundles so they won't break/stick together/crumble by rubbing up against each other too much. I tucked them in a plastic storage container upright (like oreos) to keep them from moving around. Then I stuffed the box with plastic bags so the container wouldn't move around. 

I know you'll notice it isn't decorated. Well the truth is, I forgot to take a decorated picture of the box anyway. But even if I had, Seargant J never would have seen the decoration because a certain Gracie got to the (taped and sealed) box while we were out. I honestly underestimated my dogs chewing/destruction ability. Never again. 

Like I said, The Sarge got the box today. I asked him if the cookies stayed fresh (it took about a week) and his response? 

Yes. Write home about it. Best ever wife, right here LOL. 

What other edibles have you sent or heard of someone sending? I need some more ideas!

Military Moves, for the First Timer

A friend of mine is preparing to have the military move her for the first time ever and sent me a message as she was beginning to freak out about the situation. I am not a professional like some of my military wife friends who have been through five or more moves. (And yes... there are some pros out there!) I'm sharing what I shared with her. This is NOT a PCS checklist, or "everything you need to know about PCSing", or anything like that. This is advice. Advice I wish I'd had when we first packed up and moved to San Diego a month into our marriage. I'm just tellin' y'all what I told her (more or less)! I may add some additional resources to this post at a later date.

That being said, here it is: 

1. Don't freak out. You're just nervous because you haven't done it yet. We have been moved twice by the military and I think it went pretty well. 

2. I recommend a mini pre-packing. Anything you want to keep with you, pack and set aside (we just packed it in our car). Don't forget everything you need for your pets. Try to keep vital documents and things that will be hard to replace with you. And anything you really would be devastated to lose. (You probably won't lose anything, but anything smaller than furniture always has potential. They DO reimburse damage and losses, but somethings can't be replaced-- you know what I mean). 

If it may be a while before you have an address and plan on storing your goods, they will empty all your drawers and pack them up. We found that out last time. If you're moving directly to an address or don't anticipate much of a wait, they will just pack the whole dresser, drawers and all. Some people like to pack their scivvies (undies) because they're weirded out by someone touching/seeing/handling them.. I don't really care. These guys are professionals. Last time I packed up my little junk/supply drawers. I actually bought the small strange containers -- like the small rectangle ones from Target or Walmart and put all the "junk" drawer items in there myself. They will pack them fine if you just leave it as is, but it's the unpacking them is usually not fun. They use a LOT of paper, they will wrap up two pens in three sheets of paper (lol!). They will also pack your trash if you don't watch them. But every company is different.

3. The guys will walk you through it, so don't stress but don't be afraid to ask questions. Generally they are super sweet because they are interested in keeping their government contracts! You will have a consultant or counselor or at the very least a contact at the company who will be available from before the packing to after the delivery. They do their job well.

4. One of you should be present at all times. It's weird and awkward, especially the second day when they are loading up the truck. Where do I sit? Why are they loading the couch FIRST?! What do I do? Stare at them? Ignore them? That was always my dilemma. But, be there. Sometimes they'll ask you about something they're packing. And, while you don't want to be a hawk, you want them to know you're there. Not because they'll act up if you're gone.. it's just good practice to make yourself available. I would say avoid being that person who follows them around with a notepad, making your own list of what they're packing in which box. (Except maybe if there is a high value item you need to point out.) But to each his own.


5. Don't freak out! Some people say that they've had awful experiences and I do not doubt that. I'm sure it varies because they use all different companies. I talked to our last crew and they were telling me that sometimes military families are really rude because they have the government standing behind them. (You know, that military entitlement thing?) A lot of the bad stories I hear, I wonder if people aren't complaining about something the right attitude couldn't have fixed! But yes, sometimes I'll bet there are bad crews. Like the trash-packing experience! In fact, we lost a few boxes my first move. But that is part of it. You have to relax -- this life is about rolling with the punches. You begin to realize what is important in your life when they pack it all away in 6 hours!

Finally, I would like to comment on the nature of the move. Military moves are filled with unknowns and often anxiety. Some people will give you a hard time about doing a move yourself and some will give you a hard time about letting the military move you. YOU know what is good for you. Moving yourself is, for our family, not worth the extra money. We are stressed out enough, often not knowing where we're headed (the town or the address, for that matter), and doing it in regular increments. Adding packing, weighing, and arranging move details is too much for us. But WE are not YOU! The military tries to make it as painless as possible, but nothing is perfect. Do. Not. Freak. Out!

Enjoy the ride!

Further Reading:
10 PCS Lessons I Never Learn

Care Package: Football Season

The Sarge is... "obsessed" with football. He's about the only person I know that would receive the gift of "Hooten's" and use it for reading material from the U.S. to Afghanistan. What is Hooten's? Well it's a 400-some-odd paged guide to Arkansas football, covering every high school and college team in the state. Actually, I think Hooten's is a sports show that produces a guide. Anyway. Of course, the crown jewel is the Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas. The guide is amazing and according to the commercials, other states are jealous because they wish they had one.

Even Gracie is an Arkansas fan. 

His care package for September then, had to include football! Of course... I'd already sent the blanket his mom made for him, and it's on his bed now. And I'm pretty sure it's being defiled by a weapon daily but that's fine.

I didn't take a picture of the full box (whoops), but it had a few fun things. 

-- Razorback cup, playing cards, bandages & boxers. And a spirit pom pom. Yes - a pom pom... lol what? 

-- Tailgating snacks: Chips, packaged chicken and buffalo wing sauce (from a friend), Rice Krispy Treats
-- Gatorade
-- A mini football.
-- Scentsy scent circles to um... 'deodorize' his space (all boys)

-- Candy (as usual)
-- Some things he asked for that aren't interesting.. like toothpaste. Actually, that's it. Toothpaste.

He LOVED it! He sent me a precious message about how much he loved it and how he'll be writing letters all night long because he misses home. So cute.

Let's be honest. We're big Arkansas fans around here. I love the fans in Arkansas and I want to be a tailgating mom/wife when we finally do settle down. I don't know if anyone does it quite like Arkansas does! We had the most fun tailgating at War Memorial last year. If you know any Arkansans who happen to be Razorback fans, you know all about the Hog spirit. Well, here is how I'm calling the Hogs everywhere I go. 

If you live in Central Arkansas and need a sweeeeet place to get all your Razorback gear, go to your local Hogman's Game Day Super Store! It's my favorite :)

And, at the time of this post, Arkansas is sitting at 500, but that's okay with me. Never yield! Go Coach B! 

My favorite season has officially become Fall because.. FOOTBALL!  What do you love about Fall?

The 'Stan

The Army Wife Housewife made a brilliant care package that I completely ripped off that inspired me. I present... the welcome to "Fabulous Afghanistan"! It was actually 3 boxes, and NO I did not decorate them all. Partly because I was under time constraints and partly because I'm lazy.

You may notice I basically jacked her idea for one flap completely. Yeah, well. She's brilliant :) 

I realize this post is at least a month late, and even now I am about to send off the next one... but I finally felt ready to write. I've been in Arkansas for the past month, with some time in Dallas, seeing my sweet hubby off to the sandbox, or "the Stan" as he calls it. Gracie was not particularly excited about packing or leaving... but she was happy to see her daddy.

I've been thinking a lot about this blog, what I want to write about (if I want to have something specific), whether I wanted to keep it online, etc. First of all, yes, I'll keep it online. (Hold your applause.) Second, no, I haven't made any real decisions. But for the record, I want to write bible studies so.. that may be something that you'll be seeing around here eventually. 

Y'all it is hard to write about daily life! (Especially when it's relatively boring around here!) I wish I was brilliantly funny, or crafty, or particularly gifted in something I could write about. But alas, I'm just a regular housewife. What is interesting about that? Maybe that is what's unique.. I'm average in a world where people are using Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook to prove how un-average they are. That's what I've been chewing on. 

Anyways, happy days to you all. I'll be back soon with September's care package! 

The Sarge's 28th Birthday

Many of you know my sweet husband just celebrated a birthday. Unfortunately, it had to be while we were apart. So, of course, a care package was required! I'm sorry for the terrible photos, but they were taken by my cell phone in awful lighting. But you will get the idea.

Sergeant J loves opening presents, so even though MOST of the package was composed of various kinds of candy, I wrapped most of them up in tissue paper. This was a party in a box! I included: 

- Cards from me, our neighbors and his mom
- Cake in a jar (strawberry), complete with icing (cream cheese) and candles (a 2 and an 8)
- Noise makers
- Snacks (some of his favorites)
- A set of military devotional books
- Yes... a Buzz Lightyear toy. That's from our neighbors lol!
- I didn't include it in this one because he had one, but I suggest a camera to capture the party fun!

The cake in a jar was really easy. If you have ever though about doing it, don't hesitate! If you are shipping it, don't add any icing or toppings, just leave them out to the side. Also, the directions say fill it halfway... really ONLY fill it halfway! It will bake up a bit, but the sarge said that when he opened it, it expanded even more. (Weird.)

Here's how to do it.You'll need...