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America’s Support for the Troops is Lip Service

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I am a pessimistic military spouse. In my heart, I want to believe that when Americans say “support our troops” that this statement means more than buying a reservist a cheeseburger for lunch and putting a camouflaged bumper sticker on the back of their Buicks. keepyourpromise

I want to believe that their support for the U.S. military means that they will choose to sacrifice for those who volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces.

Their civilian sacrifice means that they demand that service members receive an annual pay increase every year. It means that Americans pay higher taxes so that a disabled veteran has free health care for the rest of his life. Supporting our military means that Americans encourage their representatives to cut other benefits (services that will directly impact their well-being) so that military families can afford to buy food at an overseas military commissary or have the option of living off-base.

But that’s not reality.

We live in a country where the leadership at the Pentagon proposed cutting benefits for the military. I thought those top ranking officials were appointed to fight for the interests of everyone in the military, from the youngest recruit to the oldest World War II veteran. Earlier this month, the House Armed Services personnel subcommittee voted unanimously to leave intact the current military health care system, the housing allowance and much of the Pentagon’s $1.4 billion in direct subsidies to the commissaries. The news shocked me. It pleased me. Then I remembered the subcommittee’s recommendations are a long way from the President’s desk. We’ll see what version of the defense budget and which reductions reach the chopping block this summer. See, I really am a pessimist. But I am a patriotic pessimist.

MilitaryShoppers wants to hear from you: Why should Congress support military benefits?

Post your answer in the comments section between Thursday, May 15 and Tuesday, May 20 to be entered to win a $50 military commissary gift card, courtesy of MilitaryShoppers.

If you tweet it, use #KeepYourPromise.

Savor These 6 Simple Barbecue Side Dishes

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Barbecue

What side dishes do you bring to a neighborhood barbecue?

May is National Barbecue Month and many of us are starting to dust off our grills. Our ovens will soon go into hibernation for the summer and our forks will stay in the utensil drawer as we reach for finger food until the sun goes down.

Barbecue is a social eating experience best enjoyed in the outdoors. That’s why cul-de-sac after cul-de-sac at military housing areas around the world will begin the summer barbecue season with a potluck on Memorial Day weekend.

I personally love eating outdoors surrounded by my friends. But I often fret about which side dish or dessert to bring to the neighborhood barbecue. I want to bring a dish that is familiar to my friends, but not boring. I aim for food that people will eat so I don’t have any leftovers. Finally, I am thrilled when a fellow military spouse asks for my recipe. Her request is the highest form of flattery for this amateur cook.

Here are 6 super simple side dishes that you can take to your next neighborhood barbecue.

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

Potato salad can be tricky. I once had a neighbor who tried to make a healthy potato salad. It was a disaster because the words “healthy” or “light” are not intended to accompany potato salad. A delicious potato salad has tender red potatoes that aren’t mushy. Mushy potatoes turn potato salad into potato soup. Try this Bacon Ranch Potato Salad for a flavorful side dish.

Citrus Cole Slaw

The barbecue side dish counterpart to potato salad is coleslaw. People often prefer one over the other. Coleslaw by definition is chopped raw cabbage moistened with mayonnaise. That’s your starting point for coleslaw. Recipes, like this Citrus Cole Slaw, surprise your taste buds with subtle orange juice sweetness.

Lowfat Chuckwagon Beans

This recipe is low in fat and high in protein and fiber. It’s also very affordable. You could nearly feed an Army with the Lowfat Chuckwagon Beans. When I need a low-cost option for a potluck, I turn to this baked beans recipe.

Mighty Macaroni Salad

Need to bring a side dish to a neighborhood barbecue on Friday night? This Macaroni Salad is a great option because you can assemble it ahead of time and put it in the fridge. It makes 34 servings so make sure that there will be a crowd at the barbecue to devour this side dish.

Guacamole

Everyone loves homemade guacamole at a potluck.

Homemade Guacamole

When you are really scratching your head trying to decide what to bring to a neighborhood barbecue, keep it simple. Make a batch of homemade guacamole and grab a bag of tortilla chips. It’s a simple and safe choice. Plus it tastes so much better than that lumpy green stuff from the store.

Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes

Offering to bring a dessert is always a great option for a neighborhood potluck. Many people will pass by a table of side dishes, but few will decline a dessert. I find myself rotating between baking brownies or cupcakes. Then I found this recipe and the problem was solved—brownies packaged in cupcakes. Top the Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes with your favorite frosting and be ready to share the recipe with your neighbors. I guaranteed they will ask for it.

neighborhoodbbq

May is National Barbecue Month.

Find more tried-and-true recipes for barbecue side dishes and desserts at MilitaryShoppers.

5 Ways to Keep Your Cat Healthy

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Woman with sleeping Cat

Spend 5 minutes cuddling your cat daily.

Cats are well known for being the extra cushion on the couch. The sedentary lifestyle of a pet cat can be cute to look at, but not very good for their health. Cats need to be more active to attain a longer lifespan.

Here are 5 ways to keep your cat healthy in less than 15 minutes.

Reduce Stress

Even your cat can get stressed. For most felines, stress is created when there is a drastic change within the home, like moving, rearranging furniture, a new family member, or even losing a family member. When I deployed, my husband noticed a very big change in my cat’s behavior. His mom was missing for several months, and he had trouble eating, playing and keeping on weight. You can alleviate this by paying a little more attention to your pet. Set aside part of each day for cuddling and one-on-one time.

Exercise in the Evenings

Cats are nocturnal animals and thrive in the early evening, which is technically morning for them. Create a play routine for them: break out the cat toys after supper and play with your furry baby for at least 15 minutes. They will enjoy the attention and will essentially have their “morning workout” at the same time. Just like humans, an exercise routine will reap great benefits when it comes to the health of your pet.

What’s your cat’s play routine?

Room to Roam

While cats are great apartment pets, they still need ample room to sprint when the feeling hits them. Like felines in the savanna, the more room your cat has to roam, the better it will feel. Keep clutter to a minimum within the household, and keep your furniture as minimal as possible as well. If you would like to take it another step, place thick, reinforced shelves on walls near your windows. Cats love to climb and perch. What’s good for the cat is good for the owner; an uncluttered house will boost your health and demeanor.

Groom Daily

We take grooming for granted when it comes to cats. They seem to love to clean and groom themselves multiple times a day. But all of that grooming can produce hairballs, which can cause sickness, vomiting, and problems with their immune system. Give your cat a brush or combing session each day. Try to do this after dinner, but before playtime. A reluctant cat will associate grooming with play and will be more willing to let you brush him. Want to go the extra mile? Brush their teeth with kitty toothpaste as well. Dental hygiene is very important for cats of all ages.

healthycat

Groom your cat daily to keep her healthy.

Pick the Right Food and Ration

This is the key to keeping your pet as healthy as possible. Invest in quality cat food, like Purina and be sure to read the ingredients list. Cats are predators and carnivores, so protein should be one of the top ingredients listed. Also, check the recommended serving size of the food for either dry or wet. Ration these servings to help your cat stay at a healthy weight. Always keep fresh water available for them to have at any time.

Are you a pet lover?

May is National Pet Month and Purina is giving away up to $100,000 in fun prizes to those of us with an affinity for our furry friends. For every person that plays their instant win game, Purina will donate $0.10 to Adopt-a-Pet.com. Check out Paw It Forward to win. Good luck!

3 Superfoods You Should Eat Today

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Most of us don’t eat as healthy as we should (yeah, you know who you are), and that means we need to be looking for the items that will give us the biggest bang for our buck.

Enter superfoods. Fresh produce that packs a HUGE nutritional punch.

Now, these won’t get you healthy instantly–though I know we wish they would–but if you’re eating them on a regular basis, you’ll be doing your body a GIANT favor.

The key to superfoods is buying and eating them in season.

Here are 3 superfoods that are in season this month in the United States.

Apricots are in season from May - August in the US.

Apricots are in season from May to August in the United States.

Apricots

This small orange fruit is a relative of the peach and taste like a cross between it and a plum. These bad boys are super low in calories (only 17 per piece) and high in heart-healthy beta-carotene. They’re also high in vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant that helps battle free radicals. Try adding apricots to a hot or cold cereal or to a green salad.

Fun Fact: Both apricots and peaches are members of the rose family.

What’s your favorite apricots recipe? Share it with MilitaryShoppers.com for a chance to win a $50 commissary shopping spree. Winners are awarded each month on the MilitaryShoppers Facebook page.

Boysenberries are similar to blackberries and pack a nutritional punch.

Boysenberries pack a nutritional punch.

Boysenberries

These little berries look like like blackberries but they are actually a cross between raspberries and blackberries. Boysenberries are high in vitamin C and fiber and a great source of antioxidants to keep your brain healthy. Best part about these berries: They contain ellagic acid. What’s that? Oh, it’s just a little phytonutrient that has been found to kill cancer cells in a lab. Needless to say, they certainly won’t hurt your diet.

Fun Fact: Boysenberries were developed by a horticulturist who then turned them over to farmer Walter Knott of Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park in California.

Morels are difficult to find, but high in iron and vitamin D.

Morels are difficult to find, but high in iron and vitamin D.

Morel Mushrooms

Morels, with their honeycomb-like top, are a unique fungi. They’re one of the few foods that contains a high-concentration of vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium and helps regulate blood pressure. Morels are also packed full of iron– containing 100% of the daily recommendation for men and 44% for women in 1 cup. A word of caution: morels can cause allergic reactions to some, so if you’ve never had them before, try a small amount the first time around.

Fun Fact: Since morels require very specific conditions to grow, they can be difficult to find in the wild. For some people, hunting morels is a sport. But you must be careful. “False morels” look like morel mushrooms, but are poisonous.

Which superfood will you eat this month?

 

 

Don’t Forget Military Moms

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Military moms are amazing women. They stand by their sons and daughters as they volunteer for the military and then eventually head off to war.

We need to celebrate military moms and recognize their role in the military this month.

karen

Military moms are not often thanked for their service and sacrifice.

My mother-in-law is one of those amazing military moms. She has always stood by her son. She has always been there to pray for my husband and I and to help us when we needed it. Even though she lives far away from us, I know she is always there if we need to talk or need extra encouragement.

As a mom of three children, I often wonder if one of my sons will join the military. Thinking about that right now is hard. I can only imagine the emotions moms feel when they have to say goodbye to a child knowing that they were headed to a war zone. In her mind, her son will always be her baby. But seeing him in uniform shows her that he has become a young man. I worry when my son walks alone to the bus stop. For military mothers, they watch as their children go so much farther than that.

When you are the military mom, you usually don’t get as much interaction with your service member as the spouse does. If they can only call home sporadically, they will call their husband or wife. It makes sense. Military moms understand that this is the way it is. In a lot of cases the service member has already moved away from home. So while the mom is still missing them and feeling the distance, it is slightly different than what the spouse feels as she is missing his day-to-day presence.

karen3

Moms are the backbone of our military.

So while May is the month of the military spouse, we need to remember military moms. They are the ones who pray hard, who stay up late with worry, and who still see a 5-year-old walk away in their ACUs. These women are the backbone of our service members. They are the ones that raised these men and women to decide to fight for their country. We owe them so very much.

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Take time this month to thank your own mom or mother-in-law for their service. What they go through is not easy and being recognized for it will warm their hearts. Let them know you are thinking of them. Tell them they are loved and appreciated. It is a small way of supporting those who have always supported our military.

militarymoms

Take time to thank a military mom this month.

How can you thank a military mom this month?

 

10 Reasons Military Spouses Deserve Massages

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Military spouses never raise their right hand and take an oath. Instead they slip on a wedding band and dream about living happily ever after. That fairy tale of military life usually comes to a crashing halt when the couple faces their first separation. Yet the military spouse endures, experiences, and learns to love the military lifestyle.massage

Here are the top 10 reasons military spouses should indulge in a well-deserved massage this month.

  1. Unpacking hundreds of moving boxes
  2. Remaining calm when the Skype connection is terrible and the sound routinely cuts out
  3. Quietly smiling and nodding when a grumpy old man jokes “if the Army wanted him to have a wife, they would have issued him one.”
  4. Sitting at FRG meetings that last more than 3 hours
  5. Flying Space A from Guam with 3 children
  6. Waking up in the middle of the night to answer a phone call from their deployed spouse
  7. Reciting a Social Security number that isn’t your own
  8. Shopping at the military commissary on payday
  9. Creative and thoughtful care packages
  10. They never expect someone to tell them “thank you for your service.”

MilitaryShoppers.com wants to honor military spouses this May by giving away a $100 gift card to SpaFinder.com. The entry process will take less than 3 minutes. Simply send your name, contact email, military installation, and branch of service to bschmalz@militarymedia.com before May 31, 2014. A winner – 1 lucky military spouse– will be selected at random on June 2.  

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Rules:
Email must be submitted to bschmalz@militarymedia.com by May 31, 2014.
Email address submitted will be added to MilitaryShoppers.com registration email list and receive coupons and special offers exclusively for military families via email.
Winner will be selected at random on June 2, 2014. Winner will be posted to MilitaryShoppers Facebook page, MilitaryShoppers Blog and MilitaryShoppers.com.
Multiple entrants will not be accepted.
Email must be submitted by entrant who possesses a valid military ID card (Active Duty, Veteran, Retiree, Reserve, Guard or family member of the aforementioned categories).
Entrant must be 18 years of age or older.
Winner will be notified by e-mail.
No purchase necessary to win.

Why do you think military spouses deserve a massage?

14 Ways to Pamper Yourself for #Milspouse Appreciation Day

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Being a part of the silent ranks can be an amazing experience. We keep the home running while our service members are gone. We raise the greatest kids. We move every few years and keep complaints to a minimum (most of the time). Military spouses always did a lot in the name of love but they didn’t always get a lot of recognition.

That is, until President Reagan saw how important military spouses’ jobs were and created Military Spouse Appreciation Day in 1984. Since then, military spouses have taken the limelight on the Friday before Mother’s Day for a well-deserved day of thanks. This year, Military Spouse Appreciation Day falls on May 9.

Here are 15 ways you can pamper yourself on your special day without breaking the bank.

Get a spa treatment at home:


Complete with DIY face masks:


And pedicures:


Make a sugar scrub for everyday use:


Share a spa day with a friend:


Boost up your water:


Download a book (for free!):


Treat yourself to a cup – either out or at home:


Prefer tea? Make those tea bags do double duty:


Plant a flower garden so you’re always surrounded by beauty:


Treat yourself to something nice:


Make yourself an easy, but fancy dinner:


Plan a mini-staycation:


Still need more tips? Don't want your spouse to forget Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Email this post to them with a little hint to plan something special with the kids so you can relax!   Follow MilitaryShoppers's board #MilSpouse Appreciation Day on Pinterest.

 

Give Gifts Teachers Will Appreciate

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teacher gift ideas

Go beyond apples for teacher this year.

Teaching is a profession that deserves respect beyond measure. Teachers spend their days being role models and shaping the futures of children and young adults. Starting in preschool, our children spend the majority of their day with their teachers. Teachers can have a huge impact on our child’s self-image and attitudes about school.

Each of us has a teacher that we remember– someone who shaped us through a tough time or inspired us to reach our full potential.

One of my favorite teachers was my American Sign Language teacher in high school. I took classes from her during my junior and senior years. While she didn’t have any hearing problems herself, her sister was born deaf. It was inspiring to me to see how she advocated for the deaf through teaching high school students.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and today, May 6, is National Teacher Appreciation Day. Are you scrambling for a gift for your child’s teacher?

What's your go-to gift for your kids' teachers?

What’s your go-to gift for your kids’ teachers?

Top 3 Last-Minute Gift Ideas

Here are the top 3 gifts that teachers will appreciate, according to my friends who are teachers.

#3: Gift Cards



We all know teachers aren’t the most highly paid, though they should be. Gift cards are always great when you don’t know what to buy. You can pick up gift cards for local restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters, office supply stores, Amazon, and iTunes. If your child’s teacher is also a military spouse, give her a gift card to her military commissary.

#2: Baked Goods/School Supplies



Another popular gift was food items or school supplies. Many teachers buy classroom supplies out of their own pockets, so pencils, crayons, notebooks, and paper will help ease their burden. A homemade baked treat is always popular for teachers, but if you don’t have time to bake, package a few spices together with a cute kitchen towel for an easy gift.

#1: Handwritten Thank You Note



There’s nothing more special than an old-fashioned thank-you note. Each teacher I polled said a handwritten note was the best gift they’ve ever gotten. One friend has kept all the notes and pulls them out whenever she’s having one of those days when she’s not sure if she is making a difference. Never underestimate a sincere thank-you note. If your children are too young to write their own notes, write one expressing your gratitude to their teachers for them.

Need more ideas? Browse these great ideas on our Pinterest board:

















 

What’s your last-minute go-to gift for teachers?

Follow MilitaryShoppers’s board Teacher Appreciation Week Gifts on Pinterest.

Walking Hand in Hand – Photo Contest Winner

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Congratulations to Lacie Strange from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., for winning the Month of the Military Child Photo Contest.

MilitaryShoppersMilitaryChildWinner

Hannah, 3, walks hand in hand with her father.

This photo contest was one way to recognize military children’s sacrifices during the month of April. Lacie’s 3-year-old daughter Hannah is one of 1.2 million military children who didn’t volunteer to serve their country, but embrace the challenges and joys of military life every day.

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Share and win with MilitaryShoppers.com today.

Flowers from Iraq: Celebrating Mother’s Day During Deployments

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My husband, like many military service members, always seems to be either deployed or away at training in May.

mothers day during a deployment

Julie planned a relaxing day for herself when her husband was deployed on Mother’s Day.

Being gone in May means missing Mother’s Day. Repeatedly. Three years in a row, my husband wasn’t home for Mother’s Day.

I am the first to tell you it can be really difficult to enjoy Mother’s Day with your three children when your husband is far from home.

Mother’s Day is not a day of pampering when your husband is deployed.

For my first Mother’s Day during a deployment, I created a fun and relaxing day for myself. No, I don’t eat breakfast in bed or lounge on the couch with my favorite book. But we ate my favorite meal. We watched a fun movie and I tucked the kids in bed early that night. Obviously it wasn’t the same as having my husband home but it made for an easier and more relaxing day for me.

That’s a realistic goal for Mother’s Day during a deployment: an enjoyable and relaxing day.

How do you do that? Here are 3 ideas.

DeploymentMothersDay

Spend Mother’s Day outside with your children.

Spend Mother’s Day with your Mom or Mother-in-Law

One year I asked my mom to visit while my husband was gone for training. We spent the day together. We got some lunch, took the boys to the park and let them run around while we sat and chatted. That year, I didn’t celebrate Mother’s Day as a mom instead I celebrated the holiday as a daughter.

If you can’t be with your own mom on that day, you could ask a friend if she wants to spend the day together. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Just something to help your kids stay active and help you have some fun time with another adult.

Mothers Day

Plan a picnic or take a long walk with your children when your husband is deployed during Mother’s Day.

Take a Mother’s Day Stroll

If you know that being stuck in the house on Mother’s Day will depress you too much, plan a short trip somewhere, even if it is a nature walk around your neighborhood.

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When my boys were very young and my husband was gone, I put them in the double stroller and went for a very long walk. This took up a lot of time and I was able to get outside and enjoy myself a little. We didn’t have a special meal but I brought my camera and we had fun walking around our village in Germany together.

When All Else Fails … Hope for Flowers

One year I got flowers all the way from Iraq. That made my day, especially since my husband doesn’t normally send me flowers.

It can be so difficult to celebrate holidays alone during deployments or other separations. However, by planning a little bit, you can still make sure you have a special Mother’s Day even without your husband at home.

How will you celebrate Mother’s Day this year?