Rachel Tringali Marston MilitaryShoppers Page 5

DeCA Says Pacific Commissaries Will Return to Normal, But Not for Several Months

04/17/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Are you stationed overseas? Have you been feeling a bit frustrated with the lack of grocery goods at your installation’s commissary?

Finally, military families stationed at OCONUS locations, particularly in the Pacific, will start seeing commissary shelves fill up again because of an agreement reached between the appropriate groups responsible for shipping goods for the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA). The agreement made with the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union should be the start of getting the whole shipment process back on track.

Despite the resolution, DeCA has warned military families that it would take some time to smooth out delivery issues and allow overseas commissary inventories to return to 100 percent.

You should still experience some lag time, if you’re located in countries like Japan, South Korea, Guam and Hawaii.

How long exactly will the hold-up last? Hopefully, it will only take 3 to 4 months to get back to full inventory levels.

What caused the problem? The problem began when union disputes occurred with principal parties as well as computer mishaps that caused a breakdown in critical shipment deliveries. As a result, it caused major delays in supplying OCONUS commissaries.

Yikes!

Luckily, DeCA has been doing everything in their power since the delivery disruption, which was apparent starting December 2014 and continued into the New Year. Around that time, DeCA started using U.S Transportation Command to aid in shipping important groceries that would be difficult to find otherwise, including dairy products and certain meats. Those products are airlifted to the needed locations, which will continue until the inventory issues are straightened out.

According to a news release, DeCA Director and CEO Joseph H. Jeu said “we will continue to monitor and manage closely our supply situation in the Pacific and as always, our mission is to ensure our military and their families in the Pacific have access to full commissary benefit.”

So, if you’re OCONUS, be sure to stock up when you can and try and utilize the local grocery stores to the best of your ability. I realize that this situation is a challenge, but at least there is an end in sight now for military families.

Are you affected by this contract negotiation? How? Tell us in the comments section.

8 Signs You Were a Military Brat

04/05/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Nearly 29 years ago, I was born in a hospital on Shaw Air Force Base and started my journey as a military brat. For the next 18 years, I was dragged (sometimes kicking and screaming), through the military lifestyle from one side of the world to the other and back again. Plus, a couple of moves here and there stateside.

At the time, I thought military life was tiring, stressful and sad, especially for the “see you laters” when the military would send my dad away. But, I’ve come to realize that the experience made me value every little thing and embrace the lifestyle as a military spouse.

Besides being moved here, there and everywhere, there are a handful of unique qualities that military kids share.

Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

You know you’re a military kid when…

You don’t know how to answer, where are you from? Yes, I was born in South Carolina, but PCSed to the Philippines when I was 2 months old. And let’s not get me started on all the other moves afterward. Answering where are you from becomes a huge and elaborate monologue. Now, I just say Texas. That’s where my parents are and that’s where I graduated high school. Good for me.
You have friends and family all over the world. With each move, our family grew. It’s so wonderful to have people that are from and live in so many different parts of the world. It gives the opportunity to learn from so many different cultures and traditions. And that brings me to my next point…
You love adventure! I like to think that being a military kid gave me wanderlust. I desire and enjoy exploring and seeing new places and things. The military kind of forces adventure on you, but at the end of the day, despite how scary it can be, military life is also thrilling. Once my father retired, we still visited installations around the United States and managed to vacation at some awesome hotspots.
You have a strong sense of pride. When my family settled in Texas, I attended a civilian school because we lived about 20 miles from base. It wasn’t a common occurrence to have military kids in your classroom. I was very proud and still am about my dad’s service and my mom’s support. They both are wonderful role models to me and I look forward to them being strong role models for my own military kids, when the time comes. The pride overflows to the whole military community too. Even before I met my husband, I always had that respect for men and women in uniform.
You can “go with the flow” better than your civilian counterpart. Change is difficult. But, resilience is one of the strongest virtues of military kids. We’re young, adaptable and understanding (for the most part…). And because we have to, we learn to go on and appreciate what we have and love it.
You LOVE (or in my case, loved) Take Your Kids to Work day! I know this depends on your school district, but when I was a kiddo, I loved going to my dad’s work! We got to see fighter planes in action and pretended to be a part of briefings, not to mention walk on the tarmac. How cool was that? Sorry Mom, accounting wasn’t nearly as fun.
You own a wardrobe for every climate (or it’s a work in progress). Down coat, check! Galoshes, check! Board shorts, check! Tank top, check! Before we moved to Texas, we were in Utah, where the snow would exceed my height. My parents made sure to keep everything (within reason) that would benefit another move to the cold. You never know!
You think homecomings are the best thing ever. I don’t know about you, but I think homecomings are awesome times a thousand. No matter what, who, when, where…even if it’s just with friends you haven’t seen in awhile. There is just something beautiful and perfect about seeing a loved one after an extended amount of time. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world.

Were you a military brat? Did we miss anything on this list? Tell us in the comments section.

My Husband, My Soldier, My Hero

03/23/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Before my husband, I already had a huge appreciation for our men and women in uniform because of my dad, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant. He was the first important man in my life and is undeniably my first hero. After growing up with an Air Force presence, I was honestly nervous to start a relationship with a military man. I had an idea of what would lie ahead and I was scared.

Our service members are amazing and I have the utmost respect in everything that they do. I didn’t know if I, myself, could handle the lifestyle as a military spouse.

Then, I was sent a direct online message.

My husband messaged me on an online dating site and that how our relationship started. We may have not met in a glamorous or unique circumstance, but it’s our story and I’m proud of everything that our relationship has endured from that point on. Thank you, Internet for bringing my husband to my life.

He signed on to the dating website while he was deployed and I was looking to experience a new way to meet men. We talked about anything and everything for months before we were able to meet in person and the rest is history.

Despite being in high-stress environments and situations that I’m not going to even try to comprehend, he was wonderful to me and made the distance work. The military did have a big influence with how we maintained our relationship, but he turned me around on my thoughts about a long-term future with a service member.

He made it easy for me to seal the deal and say yes to a lifelong adventure with him.

Before orders took him overseas, we put together a quick courthouse ceremony in my hometown. I had a childhood friend of mine follow us around the state capital area to take pictures of us. My then-fiance was wearing his ACUs and it was honestly one of the first times I have ever seen him in his uniform in person. When we were dating, it would always be during the off-duty hours, so he would be in his civies.

As we were walking around town, complete strangers were walking up to us and thanking my husband for his service. They recognized him in his uniform and went out of their way to make sure he knew that there were people either thinking of him or supporting him. It made me appreciate the little things that weren’t so upfront before because I never saw him in his uniform. That piece of clothing symbolizes so much more than just my husband, but everyone else that wears it.

When we were walking around town that special day, it made me realize the choice my husband made to serve our country as one that not only myself admired, but people that never even met him. It was a humbling experience and ultimately became the first moment I truly felt like an Army spouse.

We all have different experiences that contribute to the greatness of our military community.

Is your military member your hero? Add your stories of inspiration with MilitaryShoppers.

Recipes for a Family-Friendly St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

03/13/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Saint Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite days to celebrate! It usually coincides with the start of spring, warmer weather and the color green is everywhere (I love the color green). Now, I’m going to let you in on a little known fact about myself that also brings meaning to the holiday for me, which is…I’m part Irish.

Recipes for a Family Friendly St. Patrick's Day Dinner

Do you have a favorite Irish recipe?

Yes, it’s a shocking truth, even to my husband. How could someone with olive skin, black hair and brown eyes be part Irish? Well, my grandmother on my dad’s side holds the Irish decent. She happened to marry an Italian man that gave my father the more distinct Italian features and of course, the rest is history.

Anyway, flash forward to today, I’m proud of every heritage I hold and Irish is one of them. Let’s not forget the most important part of any holiday celebration and that’s the food.

This St. Paddy’s Day, your family (Irish or not) should try out one of these delicious family-friendly recipes from MilitaryShoppers.

My husband enjoys his meat and potatoes just like the best Irishmen. I blame the Bostonian in him. Our go-to beef recipe is a hearty Guinness Stew. Don’t let the beer ingredient chase you away. The alcohol cooks out when you’re preparing the dish (the longer a recipe with alcohol cooks, the more the alcohol cooks out). This stew simmers for hours. But, if you’re still concerned about the Guinness, substitute the beer for beef broth.

If your family is more adventurous, add Corned Beef and Cabbage to the menu. Make sure you purchase a corned beef brisket with a spice packet already included. That will provide more flavor to the meat while the brisket is cooking. Or you can have Easy Shepherd’s Pie instead, which is usually a hit for families. Feel free to include peas, carrots, or any other veggie to the meat mixture to make it a complete meal.

It’s not a full Irish meal without the Irish Soda Bread (bake this a day in advance, it tastes better). I would add a little bit of dried currants to make it more authentic. You can also bake Beer Bread (Guinness is my go-to beer to bake with, but any stout or ale or non-alcoholic equivalent would work too).

Every St. Paddy’s Day dinner should finish with something sweet! Here is a very festive dessert that is perfect for all ages:

Rainbow Jello “Cake”

2 packages Strawberry Jell-O
2 packages Lemon Jell-O
2 packages Lime Jell-O
2 packages Orange Jell-O
1 can evaporated milk (24 ounces)
9X13 baking dish or pan

Start by mixing one box per given directions and pour into a greased 9X13 baking dish or pan. Set the dish or pan inside the fridge to cool for awhile. Then use the same flavor, but mix it with the boiling water portion first and let it sit in the bowl for a moment and then add ¾ cup of evaporated milk and pour it on top of the first layer. Repeat these steps with every color and feel free to add any additional flavors until it makes a rainbow!

*Note: this recipe takes a lot (and I mean a lot) of patience, as do a lot of these Irish recipes, because of the time spent either waiting on the food to cook or in this case, the Jell-O to mold. Trust me though, it will be well worth it in the end!

Don’t have time (or the patience) to go through each rainbow layer? Whip up a delicious Chocolate Bread Pudding or bake mouth-watering Apple Cake instead.

Do you have a favorite Irish recipe? Share it with the MilitaryShoppers recipe contest.

5 Things That Can Destroy a Military Marriage

03/04/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Marriage is work and done with the right attitude it’s fulfilling work.

5 Things That Can Destroy a Military Marriage

How does military life put a strain on your marriage?

Despite all the love you and your spouse have for each other, a marriage still challenges the dynamic between the two of you. It’s only natural to experience conflict, particularly with the one person that you are closest to in your life.

I’ve been taking notes from my parents’ marriage for the longest time– witnessing their good and bad times–and seeing that at the end of every struggle, they find resolution and remember the love they have for each other.

I’ve also witnessed and have firsthand experience with the particular obstacles military marriages encounter.

Sometimes I feel like the military is an unofficial third wheel in my relationship.

Based on what I’ve learned so far, there are certain instances that can strain your relationship, especially with your spouse in the military like:

Never comprising. The military forces us to comprise at times (or another phrase I use is “adjust fire”). We have to adjust fire when we get thrown surprise orders or an unexpected duty. Military spouses need to have a flexible mindset or else, it will be a difficult life. Compromise allows you to find a common ground and can offer a sense of comfort. Make it something you both can stand behind.
Lacking understanding. Understanding is another big factor that should take precedent in a military relationship because the type of compromise you want may be difficult to find. For example, my husband goes out of town for professional development a lot of times and asks that I give him space to study. It’s hard for me to leave him alone because I miss him, but instead of getting upset, I use that opportunity to work on my own personal goals.
Thinking only about yourself. I’ve always been taught that a relationship is a two-way street and to expect as much back as you put forward. If it’s constantly about yourself or even your husband, it doesn’t make it fair to each other. As military spouses, we may have to actually consider our spouses’ career on a high level, but I’ve experienced that even your career can be a two-way street with adding a dash of compromise into the equation. Focusing strictly on one person doesn’t help the relationship as a whole because it could feel belittling to the other party.
Forgetting why you fell in love. Deployments. TDYs. Field exercises. There are several factors that separate us from our loved one. During those times, we go on. We learn to live life in a way that keeps us fulfilled. Don’t get me wrong, my husband’s absence does make me feel crazy. When our spouses’ come back, it’s a whole reintegration period that each person experiences, so be patient and remember why you fell in love!
Resenting the military. I admit that I have moments where I raise my fists in the air and ask “why?!” But, what good does that really do? Nothing. It’s just temporary relief. I can’t constantly harp on the military for everything bad. That isn’t resolving the situation. It’s adding stress and unnecessary tension on your spouses’ choice to join the military.

What obstacles do you think military couples face?

Stay tuned for our follow-up article in April, “5 Things You Can Do to Save Your Military Marriage.”

March Madness Deals at the Commissary

03/02/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

As March Madness (and hopefully the weather!) heats up, the commissary is keeping its deals hot too. There are a lot of great sales and deals on all types of goodies from mouth-watering biscuits to savory sauces.

Looking for something quick and tasty to eat while watching your favorite college basketball team? Totino’s pepperoni party pizza (10.2 oz) is just 89 cents! For the finger-food lovers, Totino’s pepperoni pizza rolls are on sale for $2.25 for a package of 40 bite-sized pieces. I’m not much of a basketball fan, but I’ll be grabbing some pizzas to have on hand for the evenings that I don’t feel spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

If you want something more snack-like for the game, a bag of traditional or bold Chex Mix is $1.25. My favorite Chex Mix flavors are also on sale, dark chocolate and turtle. I definitely prefer sweeter snacks and enjoy the chocolate-covered Chex Mix flavors. Yum.

My inner Southern girl is pumped because of the reduced prices in Pillsbury Grands biscuits too. I usually make my favorite recipe of drop biscuits, but sometimes I run out of time to mix together a batch. Pillsbury has a lot of great options for fast biscuit baking. The sale includes the big homestyle or flaky layers butter tastin’ (16.3 oz) for $1.25 and for a bigger family, the butter tastin’ buttermilk or southern style (25 oz) is $2. Combine this sale with a coupon to save $0.50 when you buy 2 cans. If you’re like me with a smaller family, I’ll still grab the bigger size and keep them in the fridge for longevity and save them for another evening.

Campbell’s has a great product to help you put together a quick dinner on a busy night. For $1.39, you can buy Creamy Garlic Butter oven sauces (12 oz) or Chicken Marsala Skillet Sauces (9 oz). Then, all you need to do is throw some chicken in the mix. If you need a hearty meal for the kids or for the kids at heart, Campbell’s Chicken & Stars, Toy Story or Disney Princess (10.5 oz) condensed soup is 5 cans for $5.

When I find any deals that I can stock up on food, I jump at the chance. Prego sauces are 2 for $3 this month. You can choose from the 14.5 oz Alfredo sauces: Homestyle Alfredo, Artisan Three Cheese or Roasted Garlic Parmesan as well as tomato sauces: Traditional (24 oz), Spicy Sausage, Italian Sausage, Garlic or Heart Smart Traditional (23.5 oz).

Remember last month when the commissary had some fabulous sales for our furry family members?

Purina is running some additional deals till March 15! Whisker Lickin’s Cat Treat (my cat’s absolute favorite treats) are only 99 cents. Seriously, my cat would literally do tricks for their tuna flavored treats. Some other deals for cats:

$4.99 Tidy Cats 14 lbs. clumping litter (multiple cats, instant action or 24/7 performance)
$9.99 Friskies 24-pack cat food classic pate or meaty bits
$4.99 3.15 lbs. Cat Chow cat food (Naturals, Healthy Weight or Indoor)

The sales for our pooches are: $23.99 for 31.1 lbs. Beneful healthy weight dog food and $5.04 for 12-pack moist and meaty dog food (burger with cheddar cheese flavor or chopped burger).

Don’t forget to look through the rest of the March commissary deals by clicking here!

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10 Employment Programs to Help Military Spouses Find Jobs

02/25/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

There is a constant struggle with finding employment for military spouses. Honestly, that struggle was my biggest fear as I entered the lifestyle. I had a secure job that I absolutely loved, but when my husband received orders to move to another location, I was practically forced out of it because my employer wanted to keep someone in-house. Sounds familiar, right?

At the same time as planning a PCS, I was job hunting and re-evaluating my career path altogether.

I found that lack of consistency seemed to be the classic issue for military spouses. Jobs are difficult to maintain because of the transient lifestyle. National Military Family Association reports that 85% of military spouses either want or need work. To me, that’s a pretty high percentage.

Lucky for us, there is an arsenal full of programs to help ease the job hunt. Researching and utilizing the different programs have helped me understand the job marketplace that’s available to us. So, why not give them a try for your next job hunt?

10 Employment Programs to Help Military Spouses Find a Job

Which military spouse employment programs have you used?

Here are 10 different programs aimed to help military spouses find the perfect job:

Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP): This career portal matches military spouses to appropriate jobs for them. Employers partner with this program, so they already know that you’re a military spouse. Therefore, the job will most likely be one that you can take with you or is friendly to moving with more than one job site. The partnership also provides career advice and education for those that seek it.
Spouse Education & Career Opportunities (SECO): SECO helps military spouses set the career stage meaning it provides guidance and resources to help with mapping out the right career plan for us. If you feel like you need a change of pace or are in a job rut, this program might be something to consider. A counselor can give you the right tools needed to evaluate a career transition.
Veterans Career Transition Program (VCTP): Don’t let the name fool you. VCTP also serves military spouses. The program, run by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, offers free online courses educating and training students by giving them what they need once they enter the workforce.
Military Spouse eMentor Program: I’ve found that networking is a particularly powerful practice for military spouses because it gives us the opportunity to express our passion directly to potential employers. The Military Spouse eMentor Program is apart of the Hiring Our Heroes, a nationwide incentive to help veterans and military spouses find fulfilling employment. It allows us to connect with a registered mentor that’s eager to assist with anything and everything career-related. As you continue your search, your mentor could point you in the right direction to a serious job opportunity.
Career Spark: Also apart of the Hiring Our Heroes incentive, Career Spark is an organization created by military spouses for military spouses. The program helps build and tailor the ideal resume for you and gets you ready for the workforce by offering tips and advice.
Military Spouse Corporate Career Network (MSCCN): This nonprofit organization offers employment readiness programs and job placement solutions for military spouses. They also provide great live training sessions online that are all designed to make you competitive in the workplace.
National Military Spouse Network (NMSN): This organization was my gateway to networking with other military spouses. I attended their career summit a couple years ago and I was immediately hooked with the idea of military spouses helping each other with career advice, professional aspirations and mentorship. They also have lots of resources and content available online.
The Milspo Project: The Milspo Project launched their Embark career conference last year and will be doing the same this year in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Their goal is to raise awareness about the obstacles military spouses face and providing an event environment to empower. Are you near Fayetteville? It’s worth giving their career conference a shot.
In Gear Career: If it’s not obvious, I’m a huge advocate of military spouse networking. Networking is actually how I landed my job(s). In Gear Career takes networking to the local level by connecting career-minded military spouses together to create meaningful relationships. Don’t see a chapter in your area? They also have a virtual chapter.
Local Installation Employment Readiness Programs: When I first moved to the Fort Belvoir area, I was excited that they hosted local job fairs via the Employment Readiness Program (ERP) for both recently separated military members and military spouses. It’s a great resource that’s local to your installation that can assist with locating a job in your area. Keep a very close eye on base or post for events and/or opportunities.

Which military spouse employment programs have you used? Share your experiences.

9 Low-Cost Date Night Activities to Ignite Your Love

02/16/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

One of the best pieces of advice my parents gave me when I started my marriage is to not sacrifice date night. They’ve been going out at least once a week for as long as I could remember! Now after 30+ years of marriage and a 20+ year military career, they still enjoy the time spent out exploring something new or visiting a familiar place.

Especially with unexpected separations that military couples endure, it’s important to set aside time dedicated to strengthening your relationship. Date night is a great way to rekindle your love and to continue learning from each other. So, taking my parent’s advice to heart, my husband and I are constantly looking for ways to keep the flame alive.

Another important piece of advice, date night doesn’t have to break the bank. My parents love to utilize dining deals from local restaurants (i.e., 2 for 1 pasta dishes or 2 taco dinners for $20). Check out your local eateries to see if anything like that is possible.

Aside from going out to dinner, I wanted to share with you 9 fun and (possibly) romantic date night activities that are easy on your wallet that my husband and I regularly practice.

Cook dinner together: We’ve found this to be our go-to activity because we love the end result! It’s fun to pick a recipe and work together to create a delicious meal. Yum!
Go to the movies: Check out your installation’s MWR for ticket vouchers and/or movie theaters to see if a movie that you’re interested in watching is playing. My husband and I have seen several movies on-post already and utilize the vouchers given out by our MWR. Also, big theater companies like AMC and Cinemark offer discounted rates for military. Call your nearby movie theater to see if they offer a military discount.
Walk in a park: Early in our relationship, my husband and I took a lot of walks on the trails on and around Fort Drum. It was an opportunity for us to talk and soak in the beautiful sights– for free!
Play a game: One evening my husband and I were completely stumped on what to do. Then, he suggested playing cards. We spent the evening teaching each other the card games we knew. That motivated us to purchase other board games like Scrabble and Monopoly to play on other evenings (they are under $20 on Amazon.com). A little competition doesn’t hurt in a marriage.
Shop at a flea market or thrift store: To be honest, I might enjoy this activity more than my husband, but we both like the idea of finding unique items together. Since we’re still on the lookout for items to fill our home, this is a great way to find a bargain too.
Visit the library: Sharing quiet moments together can also be powerful. Swing by your local library to pick out your next read and if it happens to be close to closing time, head to a coffee shop to continue your reading with a coffee or tea.
Start an ongoing project: It’s going to sound silly when I say this out loud, but my husband and I build with Legos. We strategize and come up with ways to put together different structures. There are so many other things that you and your loved one can do. It can be an art project or maybe a home improvement venture. Whatever it is, it’s a great way for you and your spouse to work as a team.
Learn something new together: This should be anything like going to a museum (which many have discounted military rates) or attend an evening class at a community center. My husband and I enjoy learning from our experiences together.
Buy tickets on special military discount sites: For the nights that you want to splurge a little bit, check out GovX, Veteran Tickets or your local USO for discounted tickets to performances in your area.

What’s your go-to activity for a romantic and easy date night? Share your ideas in the comments section.

20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

02/11/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Despite the roller coaster of emotion that comes with being a military spouse, I believe there are many moments that are wonderful and touching. What better time than now to reflect and cherish all those moments that make us proud to be married to the military.

20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

Here are 20 military moments that take our breath away.

Courthouse Weddings
Waiting for their Plane to Land
Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography
Homecoming Kisses
Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography
Homecoming Hugs
Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography
Slow Dancing at Birthday Balls
Tears in Your Eyes During the National Anthem
Watching Your Kids Put their Hands on their Hearts during the National Anthem
Family Group Hugs
Celebrating Promotion Ceremonies
Growing Families
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography
Our Babies in Military Gear
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography
Exploring the World
Dress Blues
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography
Proud Communities
Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography
When Strangers Thank Service Members in Uniform
Conversations between WWII Veterans and Today’s Active Duty Service Members
Crafting the Perfect Care Package for the Right Occasion
Knowing that They Will Receive that Care Package
Receiving a Special Unexpected Letter
Lastly, that Moment Following the Homecoming Kiss. Keeping them close till the next time duty calls.
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

Now it’s your turn: What do you love about military life? Tell us in the comments section.

You’ll Love the February Deals at Your Commissary

02/02/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

I don’t know about you, but I’m loving the commissary specials for February! It’s probably because of all the deals in juices and for our furry friends this month.

My husband absolutely loves orange juice. He has at least one tall glass every single day. Seriously, we toss in 2 cartons of OJ in our basket at every visit to the commissary. From February 19 to March 4, Minute Maid Premium orange juice is 2 for $3. That’s right folks, meaning each carton is only $1.50 (yes, I’m pretty excited about it!). We’ll be sticking more than a couple of cartons in our basket in that timeframe. That’s for sure.

Not only will there be a discount on Minute Maid orange juice, V8 brand also will be on sale. The 64 oz. V8 Splash juice drink with flavors like Tropical Blend, Strawberry Kiwi, Berry Blend, Mango Peach or Diet Tropical Blend will be 2 for $3 from February 5 to February 16. I’m the tropical juice drinker, so I’ll be grabbing some of that and if you’re into the V8 Fusion drinks, they will be on sale from February 16 to March 15 at 2 for $4.

In our house, our cat Xena is our furry family member (let me be honest, she’s like a child to me) and it’s important for us to make sure she’s happy too. Her favorite treats, Purina Whisker Lickin’s is only $.99. I can probably get enough treats to last her for years at that price. Purina also has a couple other goods on sale too: One Smartblend Cat Food ($5.50) and Fancy Feast Mornings (65 cents). For the pup lovers, Purina’s 16 lbs. Alpo, Come & Get It or Prime Cuts Dog Food will be $6.99 with 28 oz. T-Bonz snacks at $3.50 and 13 oz. Pro Plan Select Dog Food at $1.26.

There’s no denying that it’s still cold outside for most of us. Campbell’s 17 oz. Organic Soup (Lentil, Chicken Noodle or Sun-Ripened Tomato & Basil) is only $2.33 and Homestyle selections (Chicken Noodle, Zesty Tomato Bisque or Healthy Request Italian-Style Wedding is 2 for $3. Paired with a tasty grilled cheese sandwich any of those would be delicious for a quick weeknight meal.

Don’t forget to pair these great discounts with coupons from coupons.com.

If you’re a huge snacker, there are a handful of deals that might be to your liking. I’ve mentioned before that my husband and I love to hike and I’ve actually shared with you some great trail mix and granola bar recipes in the past. Cascadian Farms’ 13 oz. Organic Granola Cereal will be on sale at $1.99 and that would be a great addition for your trail mix. In addition, Larabar Renola, which is grain free granola (yes, grain free and also gluten free!) is a powerbuy at $4.99 for cinnamon nut or berry. It would be a great alternative to actual granola in your trail mix or granola bar recipes. I’m interested to give it a try!

Other great deals for snacks I have to mention:

Totino’s Pizza Rolls, $2.25
Totino’s Party Pizza, $.89
FritoLay Party Sized: Tostitos, Lay’s Potato Chips, Ruffles and Doritos, $2.98

So basically, if you have the munchies, you’re covered!

Want to see the all of February’s Commissary Specials?

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