Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

5 Sweet Valentine’s Day Care Package Ideas

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Ideas for Valentine's Day Care PackagesValentine’s Day is quickly approaching and if your love is deployed, sending a care package ahead of time will help them celebrate the day no matter where they are serving. Romantic holidays such as this can be a very emotional time and planning a sweet surprise can help turn the day into something special. Sending a well thought out care package is a fantastic way to let your service member know that they mean the world to you. Here are 5 ideas for sweet Valentine’s Day care packages.

Sweet Beginnings

Pictures and mementos from when you first met are always a great way to bring a smile to your loved one. Start this Valentine’s Day care package by decorating the box. You can make it quick and easy by just drawing hearts and xoxo’s or make it an elaborately decorated box with scrapbook paper, stickers and more.

Add sentimental items that will draw emotion such as a small stuffed animal your service member won for you at the fair, ticket stubs to a concert he/she surprised you with or something you kept from your first date.

Then add a sweet card followed by some actual sweets. Sweet tarts, chocolates (if you aren’t sending this care package to a hot climate), brownies and cookies are a few ideas.Ideas for Valentine's Day Care Packages

Never Ending Love

This care package would be ideal for a romantic person. Decorate the inside of the box and fill it with hearts. Add in romantic movies such as Love Actually, Sleepless in Seattle and Gone with the Wind. The Never Ending Story, while not romantic, goes with the theme and they might need a light-hearted classic after all. Write a love letter, a real love letter letting your significant other know your true emotions. Write about how you felt the first time they said “I love you” or when you knew you were in love. Put in a picture of the two of you from a romantic moment, maybe when they proposed or just watching the sunset together. Finish the box with sweets for him/her to snack on while reading your letter or watching a romantic movie. This could include Hershey Kisses (if you aren’t sending this to a very hot climate), Cherry Lovers Hearts, candy sweetheart roses, strawberry and cherry gummy hearts and sweet conversation hearts. You might even include a travel size Kleenex packet.

Ideas for Valentine's Day Care Package

Hot & Spicy

For the wild, hot and spicy couple this box is for you. Fill the box with spicy candy such as Red Hots, Fireballs, Big Red gum, cinnamon hearts and spiced tea. Check what customs allows for food to be sent and if it’s allowed, include a jar of hot peppers. You can put in a few heat wraps for sore muscles as a nice gesture. Decorate the box with chili peppers, zebra stripes or flaming hearts. Add a few hot pictures of yourself, nothing X-rated mind you. Make your own card with some of the same decorations and write about some of the wild nights you’ve shared together and the ones you’re looking forward to having after the homecoming.

Ideas for Valentine's Day Care PackagesYou Complete Me

This is a great Valentine’s Day care package for young love or young at heart. Include a few puzzles. You can create personalized puzzles with your own pictures on Shutterfly. Send ping pong paddles and balls with a note attached that says “You are the ping to my pong.” A few boxes of Kraft macaroni and cheese with a note saying “You are the cheese to my mac” is also cute and funny, not to mention delicious. Movies are always welcome gifts and you can choose your favorite and add a note saying “You are the Harry to my Sally,” or the main characters in your favorite romantic movie. Make sure you put in a letter saying how you both complement each other. Fill the rest of the box with sweet treats that you can’t have just one of such as: Twix, KitKats, M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces, jelly beans and gummy bears.

Love in Photos

With the ability to take digital pictures and instantly post them to social media or send them directly to anyone, physical pictures have become scarce. There’s just nothing like having a physical picture to hold however. Go through old photos and new ones and have them printed. This could include pictures from when you first met, your wedding or special occasion, the birth of your child and family vacations. Decorate the box with photos of just the two of you at significant times in your life. Put in a few scrapbooks and make them as simple or elaborate as you want. Add a few personalized sweet treats to complete the care package. Did  you know you can put your own picture on M&M’s? You can also put a picture on candy tins and add your own sweet treats.

These are just a few ideas for Valentine’s Day care packages. What have you sent to your loved one in the past?

What’s This Surcharge on My Commissary Receipt?

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There are many great reasons to shop at your military commissary and saving money on groceries is usually No. 1. The commissary is able to sell products on average for 30 percent less than those at civilian grocery stores because all items are sold at cost. This is a great savings for customers, but some still question the real savings when they see the 5 percent surcharge added at the checkout.

Why is there a surcharge at the commissary and what does it cover?

It goes right back into the stores, paying for new construction, renovations and repairs, equipment and store-level information technology systems such as the checkouts. This provides modern facilities for service members at a reduced cost to taxpayers.

According to the Defense Commissary Agency, “the surcharge does not diminish commissary savings, because it is included in our savings calculations along with any state sales tax applied at the retail grocery stores, to show how much our customers actually save at the register.”

The surcharge isn’t new. In fact, Congress set the surcharge in 1952 at 2 percent in order to make commissaries more self-sustaining and less reliant on appropriated funding. It was raised three more times over the years and has stayed at 5 percent since 1983. This surcharge covers all stateside and overseas commissaries now.

The law requires the surcharge to be added to all items sold at the commissary and is therefore applied to the total purchase before coupon deductions are made. For example, if you have $50 worth of groceries before coupons then the 5 percent surcharge would be applied as $50 x .05 = $2.50. If you then have $10 worth in coupons the total at the end of your bill will be $50 + $2.50 surcharge = $52.50 – $10 =$42.50

The next time you buy groceries at the commissary look at your receipt. That surcharge is the amount you personally contributed to improve your commissary.

What changes have you noticed at your local military commissary? Do you have questions about the commissary? Ask us in the comment section below.

7 Indoor Activities to Wear Out Your Active Dog This Winter

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Poor Fido. It’s freezing outside. This time of year it seems like the entire nation is under Jack Frost’s finger. The bitter wind. The dropping temperatures. The snow and ice. During the entire month of January, I prefer to sit at home, cuddled under a blanket drinking tea and reading a book. I don’t go outside unless it is absolutely necessary.

Unfortunately for the active dogs in our families, the sedentary nature of winter doesn’t comply with most dogs’ must-be-outside-and-run desires.  Depending on the breed and the age, they need to burn off energy every day. Canine experts agree that pent-up energy can lead to destructive or nervous behaviors from our pets. Ideally we would take our dogs out for a walk for at least 20 minutes every day, even during the winter months. But with below freezing temperatures, you need to consider your pet’s safety and may need to reduce their outside time this month. Here are 7 ideas to keep your dog active inside when it’s too cold to play outside.

7 Indoor Activities to Wear Out Your Active Dog This Winter

Some days it is simply too cold to go outside and play. How do you keep your dog active when it’s stuck inside during the winter?

7 Indoor Activities to Wear Out Your Active Dog This Winter

  1. Build an Inside Obstacle Course. Dogs need to run or at least move quickly for a few minutes every day. Without buying special equipment, you can use household items to challenge your dog’s agility. Have your dog jump over a broom stick and run up and down the stairs. Drape a blanket over a set of chairs to make a “tunnel” for your dog to crawl through. Feel free to test out different challenges. Don’t make the obstacle course impossible for your dog, but you also don’t want it to be too easy. The key is for them to release energy and have fun. Always end the obstacle course on a positive note.
  2. Play Tug-O-War. For the well trained dog, good old fashioned tug-o-war can be a simple way to play together in the living room. I know my brother-in-law does this nightly with his Boxer while watching television.
  3. Schedule Puppy Play Dates. Saturday snowstorm? Invite a neighbor to come over with her dog. The stimulus of another dog (as long as you know that they will play well together) can be another way to release energy without a lot of physical activity. As an added bonus, you get to catch up on the neighborhood gossip over a mug of hot chocolate.
  4. Challenge Them with Puzzle Feeders. The Dane Dame has a wonderful post on ideas for inexpensive DIY puzzle feeders. This moderate level puzzle feeder uses tennis balls, a muffin tin and dog treats.
  5. Invite Children into Your Home. You know your dog best. If you don’t have children, but your dog is well behaved around little ones and enjoys their constant squeals, invite a neighbor and her 4-year-old over to play. After this play date, I guarantee your dog and her preschooler will both need a long winter’s nap. It’s also a good opportunity to teach children how to behave around other people’s pets.
  6. Play Sniff and Find.  This exercise is more mental than physical, but still your dog and her nose will love it. Instead of simply giving your dog a treat, hide their favorite treat under 1 of 3 containers. Don’t let your dog see you do this. Shuffle the containers around and then call your dog. Encourage your puppy to find it. Once they find it, they get to eat their prize– the treat! Once your dog gets the hang of this game, you can play the hide and seek game anywhere in the house. (Again, the stairs are your friend this January. Hide the treat upstairs while your dog is downstairs.) Just give the command “find it” to let your dog know when they can begin their search.
  7. Try Indoor Fetch. Intense indoor fetch with a tennis ball is the easiest way to burn off some energy with your dog. Try different types of balls to keep this activity interesting for your dog.

How do you keep your dog active on cold days?

Expect the Unexpected and More Valuable Advice for Soon-to-Be Military Spouses

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The holidays bring a lot of joy and excitement, including engagements and marriages. My husband and I got married in a courtroom 3 days before Christmas and a week before overseas orders in 2012.

Months before our wedding, my husband PCSed from Fort Drum and I tagged along for the almost cross-country move from New York to Arizona. I had a feeling that he would propose sometime during our trip (spoiler alert, he did propose at the end of the trip and I said “yes”).

Now, 3 years after saying “I do,” I’ve learned a whole lot, and I admit, I still have a whole lot to learn. In my father’s 20+ year career, I’ve witnessed the challenges of my rock star mother and she would always tell me to live day by day. I take that advice to heart and look to her for guidance and strength. The most important lesson I’ve learned so far is that despite all the trials and/or difficulties military life could bring, its community is the most loving, understanding and powerful asset for military spouses. We’re all in this crazy life together!

Expect the Unexpected and More Valuable Advice for Soon-to-Be Military Spouses

 

Here is a sampling of important advice I’ve learned as a military spouse:

  1. Question Everything. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and really, you should be asking a lot of questions. There are a lot of moving parts with the military (ie., PCS, Tricare, retirement), so asking a lot of questions will ensure you understand this lifestyle better.
  2. Open Your Mind. There will be days when you scratch your head at the military, but don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. For example, things can change at a moment’s notice or there might be some rules that don’t make any sense to you. Be sure you keep an open mind.
  3. Expect the Unexpected. Nothing is set in stone. Orders can change and TDYs pop-up whenever.
  4. Expect Stereotypes. People may judge you inside and outside the military community. When I started dating my husband, people wondered why. There is a stigma with people that decide to join the military. There is also a stigma with newbie spouses. Don’t let anything or anyone get you down as you continue to grow within the military community because that isn’t a reflection of everyone. There are so many people out there that are kind and helpful. I’ve never experienced any negativity, but it’s out there.
  5. Find the Compromise. When the military threw the curveball of an overseas assignment at my husband before our nuptials, I really wanted the “dream” wedding– nothing big, just something with my dad walking me down the aisle and my family and friends there. So, we arranged for a courthouse ceremony first and the traditional church wedding at my childhood church when his assignment was over. It ended up being perfect for us. Compromise is your mantra.
  6. Keep Your Sense of Self Worth. No matter what, don’t lose sight of yourself! Take the time to do things that make you special and happy.

Are you engaged to a service member? What questions do you have about military life?

10 Reasons to Shop the Commissary

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Being part of the military community has many benefits and the commissary is one privilege everyone should take advantage of. Great savings are not the only reason to shop at the commissary either.

Here are 10 reasons to shop at your commissary.

1. Save Money

Yes, saving money is the No. 1 reason most people shop at the commissary. Consumers save 30% or more on average over commercial grocery stores. “Commissaries are required by law to sell items at prices set only high enough to recover item cost, with no profit or overhead factored into item price.”

Have you noticed all the orange “VALUE” tags lining the shelves? There are on average 300 products in more than 33 categories with this label. These truly are value items as the commissary has worked hard to identify “name brand products that provide consistent value, based on an average lower price than the equivalent store, private label item.”

2. Case Lot Sales

Another great way to save is buying in bulk. Commissaries have customer appreciation case lot sales twice a year stateside. “We choose the items from the list that we think will sell well at our stores,” said Mark Crump, the store manager at the Little Creek commissary. “These are not items that have been sitting in our warehouse.”

Products are marked down and you can still use coupons to further increase your savings.

3. Rewards Card

The commissary rewards card allows you to redeem coupons electronically and all commissaries worldwide accept the rewards card. You can pick one up at the checkout and register it at home or on your smartphone. From there you can browse coupons and add them to your card. New coupons are posted multiple times a week so check it before you head to the commissary. At the checkout simply hand your card to the cashier. With digital coupons you won’t have to worry about clipping coupons at home and having the frustration of leaving them in the car. The rewards card comes as a key chain tag as well, so as long as you have your keys you’ll have your coupons.

4. Click2Go

Click2Go is a new service currently being tested at only 3 commissaries: Fort Lee, VA, Offutt Air Force Base, NE and Travis Air Force Base, CA. Click2Go allows customers to order their groceries online and pick them up at the commissary curbside. If the program proves to be popular the service may be added to more locations.

5. Support Scholarships for Military Children

The Scholarship for Military Children Program provides college scholarships to military dependents. It was “created in recognition of the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family. It is the intent of the program that a scholarship funded through contributions be awarded annually for each commissary operated by the Defense Commissary Agency worldwide.” Every commissary awards at least one $2,000 scholarship and more may be possible based on funding and eligible applicants.

6. Pathways for Students and Recent Graduates

This is a federal driven program that includes an internship program for current students, a recent graduates program and the Presidential Management Fellows Program for people who earned an advanced degree within the proceeding 2 years. These programs promote employment opportunities for students and recent graduates in the federal workforce. The commissary supports these programs.

7. International Aisle

There are some wonderful products on the international aisle and you aren’t likely to find them at commercial grocery stores. If you have a sweet tooth or would just like to try a British chocolate bar, grab a Crunchie. It is a honeycomb toffee chocolate bar that will fix your sweet tooth for a few days. The international food aisle isn’t just for sweets; you’ll find a wide variety of products from many countries.

8. Meet Other Military Families

At times being part of the military life can be lonely. Shopping at the commissary gives you an opportunity to meet other families. Striking up a conversation over an item on sale or just how cute the little baby in the shopping cart is one easy way to feel a little more connected.

9. Consistency in Your Life

Moving can put you at odds but there is one thing that can be consistent in your life, the commissary. Looking for a new home, new schools, new stylist and new friends is a lot to worry about. Knowing the commissary is available is one less stress. You won’t have to look for a new grocery store.

10. Support Military Dependents

Many of those working at the commissary are military dependents. You will hear many different accents from spouses from all over the world and notice young baggers that are children of service members. There are also a few retired individuals that will be happy to share a story with you.

These are just a few of the many reasons to shop at the commissary. Why do YOU shop at your military commissary? Tell us in the comments section.

5 Easy Practices to Keep You Healthy in the New Year

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Happy 2015! Now that the new year is here, I am ready to get back to exercising on a regular basis and becoming a healthier person. There are many different ways you can do this and it might depend on your personality and what you have available to you.5 Ways to Stay Healthy in 2015

Here is my list of 5 easy ways to stay healthy in 2015.

  1. Regular workout schedule. Maybe you need to work out 5 days a week. Maybe you only need to do so for 2 days. Whatever it is come up with a regular schedule and stick to it. Make sure you have a way of easily working out on the days you have designated to do so. If you need a new workout idea, find a new video or join a new gym. Mix it up a bit so you won’t lose interest.
  2. Keep a journal. I find that writing in a journal can help me process my thoughts and everything going on with me. It helps me to see what is going on in my life and work through some of the more difficult trials I might be dealing with. Writing in a journal keeps me balanced and allows me to get my thoughts and feelings out. This can be helpful for people who have trouble sleeping. Writing before bed can help you relax and relieve stress.
  3. Drink more water. No matter what you do or what you eat, drinking more water is always a good thing. Buy a fancy new water bottle if that helps but try drinking water all day long. It will be worth it if you can add this habit to your day. They say it is a good idea to drink 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
  4. Walk more often. Try to go on a daily walk. Park farther away than you normally do. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk around your house if you can’t get out. I know it can be hard to find time to do this with little kids. You can also put them in a stroller and walk with them. I lost all of my baby weight after my second child just by walking. Even if you can’t walk very far at one time, it is a good thing to do.
  5. Make time for friendship. Make plans to do lunch with some friends. Go out together and talk. Even just meeting for coffee for an hour will make for a better life. If you have kids, plan a playdate. Invite the moms over to your house or meet up at a park. Not only is it good for you but it will be good for your children as well. If you are new to the area, seek out some groups and see if you can find one that you might enjoy. It is one of the best ways to meet new people.

Working toward a healthier you is always a good thing, especially when you start a new year. What has worked best in your life?

Why You Should Ditch Your New Year’s Resolutions

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With New Year’s Eve comes making new goals and resolutions. This is why the fitness centers are packed and our social media feeds are filled with encouraging ideas on how to save money, eat healthier or keep an organized household. Goals can be a good thing but they can also appear irrational or absurd.

Why You Shouldn't Keep Your New Year's Resolution

It might not be the best idea to stick to a New Year’s resolution.

Life changes, month by month. You never know what June will be like in January. Sometimes New Year’s resolutions can cause more stress than satisfaction. It would be better to think about the things in your life that you would like to change and figure out how you can make those adjustment in simple steps.

If your goal is to lose weight, you should figure out the best way to do so. Going gluten free might sound like a great idea but it isn’t that realistic for everyone. For most people, whole grains are a part of a healthy and balanced diet. Figure out what is holding you back from your goal weight and make changes that include both diet and exercise.

If you want to be a better mom, work toward that but don’t worry about having to become a perfect mom. A perfect parent simply doesn’t exist. If you want to go back to school, it is probably best to not jump in full-time if you are not totally sure that is what you want to do. Signing up for a few classes might be a much better choice.

It is great to work on your marriage but don’t complicate things or put too much pressure on yourselves. If you can only go out once a month or even two times a year, that is OK. Weekly date nights might sound like a great idea but not everyone is able to do them, especially with a busy military schedule.

One idea is to sit down at the start of every month or even every week and figure Why You Shouldn't Keep Your New Year's Resolutionsout what you need to change and make better in your life. Don’t worry about changing everything by the end of January. It isn’t possible to become a new person that quickly. By taking things month by month, you are more likely to see the changes you want to see, even if it takes longer to get there.

Find friends to share your ideas with, they could be working on the same types of goals you are. If you want to exercise more, find a workout buddy. If you want to learn a new skill, find a friend and sign up for a class. There are a million ways to make your life better but you don’t have to use January 1 as the reason to do so. Our lives are always changing and there is always some growing to do.

You can also focus on a word for the year. Some popular choices seem to be contentment, faith, inspired, brave or authentic.

What about you? Do you make New Year’s resolutions or do you tend to stay away from those? What are your goals for 2015? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

January’s Commissary Specials Caused Me to Do a Double Take

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I experienced sticker shock in my hometown grocery store last week. Like many military families, I spent the holiday season with my parents in the Midwest. Now places like South Dakota and Nebraska tend to be known for low-cost living. But when my mom asked me to pick up a few essential items (milk, eggs, bread, sugar, graham crackers) on my way to her house, I was stunned by the prices.

My brain worked through a series of thoughts. First there was confusion. This price can’t be right, can it? It must be an error. Followed closely by flabbergasted. Is this some kind of holiday price increase? My mom said “Nope.” And finally I felt grateful. I found myself in the cracker aisle of a locally owned grocery store in my hometown thanking Uncle Sam for our military commissaries.

This month’s commissary specials offer a mix of party food for the big game along with pantry staples that fit with my New Year’s resolution to spend less and save more money in 2015.

Muir Glen organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, the main ingredient in my football playoff chili, are on sale this month. A 14.5-ounce can is only $1.00. One buck. That price made me do a double-take. That’s dirt cheap. That’s cheaper than if I grew my OWN organic tomatoes and canned them at the end of the season. You can guarantee I’ll be stocking up on the Muir Glen diced tomatoes. My family will be eating Spicy Cajun Gumbo on Mardi Gras and Tortilla Taco Meatball Soup for easy, breezy Sunday night dinners.

Winter is the best time of year for soup. Whether you like the Campbell’s Homestyle Healthy Soup (Italian-style wedding or chicken with whole grain pasta) or Campbell’s Chunky Soup (sausage gumbo is my favorite), you can have your pick. Both are on sale this month at the commissary. Serving soup for lunch or dinner is an affordable way to warm up during January.

What to know what other commissary specials made me do a double-take?

  • Old El Paso refried beans, $.75. Save an additional $.30 with this coupon.
  • Green Giant Nibblers 6 mini ears of corn on the cob, $1.50
  • Totino Party Pepperoni Pizza, $.89
  • Pace Chunky Salsa, 2 for $3
  • V8 Vegetable Juice, Healthy Greens, $2.98 Pair that sale price with this $1.00 coupon and they are practically giving the V8 Carrot Mango to you.

In case you were wondering, Pace Chunky Salsa is another ingredient in my football chili.

Are you a fan of Frito-Lay chips? Lay’s Classic Potato Chips ($2.00), Ruffles, original or Cheddar and Sour Cream ($2.09) and Tostitos Scoops ($2.50) along with Doritos ($2.50) are all on sale this month. Don’t forget to stock up on chips for the big game. It’s the ultimatum game day snack. But please, don’t crunch during the commercials.

Pair it with Tostitos Queso Dip, on sale for $2.50, and you’ll be doing a happy dance when you walk out of the commissary. Save more, spend less and do more double-takes with this month’s sale specials at your military commissary.

Want to know the weekly Manager’s Specials? Sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter!

Warm Up with Super Soups for the Winter

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As the weather drops, we look for ways to heat us up. Whether we bundle up in a cozy sweater or wrap ourselves with a soft scarf, there are tons of ways to keep warm in the winter. My absolute favorite way to warm up is from the inside with a tasty soup.

Soups are wonderful because they are so versatile. Every cuisine has different soups that are special from one another and offer a completely different taste. It’s also very easy to put together. The broth allows for all the ingredients to mix together and create an awesome flavor. The best part is you can add or take away anything that doesn’t appeal to you or your family.

A lot of soup recipes call for a mirepoix (aka the soup trifecta), which is sauteed onion, celery and carrots. Cooked together in butter, it releases a wonderful aroma. Traditional chicken noodle soup uses a mirepoix and so does my all-time go-to soup recipe. Instead of using plain noodles, I opt for cheese-filled tortellini.

Warm Up with Super Soups for the Winter

Tortellini Soup

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 carton chicken broth (32 oz)
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 package dried cheese tortellini
  • salt/pepper to taste
  • grated Parmesan cheese

Heat large pot on medium-low heat. Add butter, garlic, onion, celery, carrots and cook for about 10 minutes. Add broth, water and dried parsley to boil, then reduce heat. Add tortellini and cover to simmer for about 10 minutes, until tortellini is cooked.

Serve in a bowl and top off with grated Parmesan cheese. I like to add a side of garlic bread. Jazz it up more by adding cooked chicken with the tortellini and cook for a couple of minutes more.

A more hearty soup is good ol’ Beef Stew. Cook through cubed beef in a couple tablespoons of cooking oil in a large pot. Mix together 4 cubes of beef bouillon, broken up and 4 cups of water in a separate container. After everything is dissolved, transfer it to the large pot. Then add, 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary, 1 teaspoon of dried parsley and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for an hour (allowing the meat to tenderize). Then, stir in 3 potatoes, 4 celery stalks, 4 carrots (all chopped to 1 inch pieces) and 1 large onion chopped. Separately, dissolve 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in 2 teaspoons of cold water and pour into stew. Cover and simmer for another hour.

For a more south-of-the-border flavor, Ground Beef Taco Soup would be ideal. It’s an easy recipe that requires you to throw a bunch of ingredients in a pot. First, you need to cook 1 pound of ground beef. Then, add 1 taco seasoning packet, 1 can kidney beans undrained, 1 can corn drained and 1 cup of water.

I like to add a can of diced tomatoes in my taco soup and make a cheese quesadilla to serve with it. Top off your soup with some cheese and dollop of sour cream. Yum!

Warm up with MilitaryShoppers Super Soup Recipes

I’m a huge fan of cheese too, so a tasty cheese soup is always on the menu for my family. Another great option for a cheesy soup is this adaptation of a baked potato soup.

If you’re looking for soup that’s a bit more zesty, try out this Minestrone recipe. You’ll need the soup trifecta again with a packet of Italian dressing mix, diced tomatoes and kidney beans.

This is only a very small sampling of soup recipes that are out there. MilitaryShoppers has a great inventory, so check it out for more ideas.

What’s your favorite soup recipe? Share it with MilitaryShoppers!

Social Media Do’s and Don’ts for Military Families

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ISIS threats, the Navy SEAL  who claims he shot and killed Osama bi Laden has been revealed and odd social media accounts trying to add us as friends? Maybe we should be examining social media “do’s” and “don’ts” for military families. Maybe we should be making a few changes to keep us safe!

Military Family Social Media Do’s

  • be careful about how much information you give out on social media. I have a rule that in most cases I only share what I did after the fact. This means waiting on Instagram photos and waiting until something has already happened before I share it. I just feel better about this and know that if I do it this way, I can keep my family a little safer.
  • ask your spouse what they are comfortable with you sharing. Some service members would prefer you don’t share anything at all. Others are more open with it.
  • guard your Facebook account. Don’t add people you don’t know. Be smart. Don’t feel like you have to respond to someone because they sent you a message. Block anyone that makes you feel uncomfortable.
  • remember PERSEC. This is when you are careful about what personal information to share online. It is a good idea to edit out any last name, rank or unit information when sharing photos of your loved one in uniform.
  • listen to any warnings coming from your spouse’s command. They might have more information than you do and it would be best to listen to them when it comes to this.

Padlock on computer keyboard

Military Family Social Media Don’t…

  • break OPSEC. This is sharing information with dates and locations. It is a big no-no. Even something as simple as, “My soldier will be home in three days” is breaking OPSEC. It might not seem like what you are saying is that important but if someone reads it, reads a few other posts, they can put things together and that can make things unsafe for you or your service member.
  • tell the world everything about you. The world doesn’t need to know. Keep some things private. It is not only a good idea but it will make you feel better when you are not sharing everything with the world.
  • leave social media altogether. You don’t have to do this. You can customize your settings, post smartly and you should be OK. You don’t have to leave and delete yourself from the virtual world.
  • post photos of where you live, where your kids go to school or anything that could easily be used to find you in person. This can be hard to do when you have so many social media accounts but it is the best way to keep yourself safe.
  • ignore social media privacy settings. You can make it so only your family sees your photos and your posts about your kids. This doesn’t mean you should share all on there, just take some time to tighten things up so only the people you really want to see your personal information can see it. Facebook also has a way to turn all of your public posts private at once which is a great thing to do every once in a while.

How are you making sure you protect you and your family from online or offline threats? Have you changed the way you are on social media because of them?