Family MilitaryShoppers Page 51

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

01/14/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

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!

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

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.
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.
Expect the Unexpected. Nothing is set in stone. Orders can change and TDYs pop-up whenever.
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.
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.
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

01/12/2015 By Kimber Green

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

01/09/2015 By Julie Provost

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.

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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

01/07/2015 By Julie Provost

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.

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 out 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.

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

12/26/2014 By Julie Provost

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.

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?

Tips for Traveling with Children During the Hectic Holidays

12/17/2014 By Kimber Green

Traveling with children during the holidays can be an adventure. The key to a stress free trip (oh how we wish) is preparation. You’ve spent countless hours making sure every detail is taken care of for your family these holidays. Something is, of course, going to go wrong however. Flights get delayed or worse, canceled. Cars get flat tires and holiday traffic can slow down your travel time.

To keep your sanity while driving or flying with your children this holiday season, use these travel tips to find peace and joy.

Expect delays when traveling this holiday season.

Mentally prepare yourself that something might go wrong. The holidays are stressful enough; don’t add to it by expecting travel to be perfect.
Prepare early. There’s nothing like the stress that comes with the last minute to-do list.
Make a list of what needs to be packed and check items off as they go into the suitcase. Keep the list on top of the suitcase until you leave so you don’t question yourself 50 times whether you packed your daughter’s favorite pajamas or your own toothbrush.
Buy small new toys to entertain your children. We all wish our kids would sit patiently but what really happens is they get bored. You don’t need to dip into your Hanukkah or Christmas fund; pick up a few things at the Dollar Store. A new coloring book with Jake and the Never Land Pirates crayons can buy you some extra quiet time.
Pack snacks and drinks. There is nothing worse than a “hangry” child (angry because they are hungry). Choose sippy cups that don’t spill and snacks that aren’t messy. Have wipes and a plastic bag for the trash.
What do you pack to keep your children busy?

Driving Tips

Make sure the car is clean and extra items are removed. Children will make a mess and you will accumulate things throughout the road trip.
Stock the car with supplies. Pack toys, snacks, paper towels and plastic bags for the inevitable mess and extra bags in case your child gets motion sickness.
Place things strategically in the car so that they are easy to reach. You don’t want to listen to your daughter beg for something she can’t reach for the next 50 miles. Make sure you can reach things too so you can keep your eyes on the road.
Consider your child’s sleep schedule. If it is a short drive, consider waiting closer to nap time so that they may sleep longer. If it is a long drive consider leaving early in the morning so they sleep the first few hours.
Dress in layers so that they can be removed in the car. We’ve all heard the whine of “I’m hot” or “I’m cold.” Everyone isn’t going to be comfortable at the same temperature so layers will help even that out.
Have directions in more than one area. If your toddler is playing on your phone and your car’s GPS suddenly says “recalculating,” one of you might have a meltdown. He is not going to want to give it up and you need directions. You could do a crazy thing…print out directions.
Incorporate bathroom breaks and stretching stops. Make each child “try” to go to the bathroom so you don’t have another one asking to stop 5 minutes later. Provide the opportunity to get out of the car and stretch. Let the kids run around at a rest stop. They’ll wear themselves out and you’ll have some time of peace back in the car again.
If your children fall asleep, utilize this as “me time.” Listen to an audio book or grownup music. Turning the radio off and just having a moment of quiet can help you relax as well.
Do you prefer to board first or board the airplane last with your kids?

Plane Tips

Completely empty your diaper bag or purse and restock it with only the items you need for the flight. When your baby is crying, digging through your bag for his pacifier while trying to board the plane will stress you out.
Get to the airport early. Make sure you have enough time to find parking, check your bag, get through the extra-long security line and still reach your gate with plenty of time.
Prepare as if your flight might get delayed. Have extra diapers, formula, snacks and toys.
Only pack quiet toys that won’t roll away. This will keep you from being annoyed by a noisy toy or continuously picking up your child’s toy.
Board the plane early or last. Families are called to board the plane before the rest of the group. If you need to pop down a stroller or settle your children in their seats this is a great time. If you have a fussing baby or an anxious child, wait until the last person boards to give you time to calm them.

No matter how you travel this holiday season, there are many ways to plan ahead and limit stress. You can’t prevent everything from going wrong, but if you take these steps you might just find the Merry in your Christmas.

Want more tips for traveling with small children? Visit the MilitaryShoppers’ Pinterest page.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Your Family Pet

12/15/2014 By Julie Provost

Have you gotten all of your Christmas shopping done yet? We added a dog to our family this past year and I have been excited to shop for her as well. There are a lot of great items out there to put in your pets stocking. So when you are out shopping this year, don’t forget about your furry friends.

Here are some great ideas for stocking stuffers for your favorite family pet.

If you have a dog in your home, you want them to be a part of your Christmas celebration. Put some of these items in their stocking and they will thank you forever.

Purina Beggin’ Strips Dog Snacks. These are a great treat you can put in your dog’s stocking. You might be buying treats anyway but having a little something extra can be a lot of fun. These snacks come in bacon, bacon and cheese, bacon and beef and applewood smoked.

A brand new collar. Let’s face it, a dog’s collar gets worn and it is nice to be able to replace it. It is perfect for a stocking stuffer.

Chew toys. Our little girl is getting a few of these. You can find them for any size dog and some you can even put treats in. Our girl is getting one that looks like a dinosaur but you can find them in a lot of different shapes.

A new stuffed animal- If you have ever been to a pet store you know about all the different types of stuffed animals you can get for your dog. Pick out one or two new ones for the stocking. These toys are a lot of fun and you can get them in different sizes too depending on how big your dog is.

If you have a cat in your home, you might want to pick up some of these fun items to spoil your furry little friend.

Purina Friskies Party Mix. These are like a party in a box for your kitty cat. You can find them in three different types, party mix crunch, party mix puffs and party mix naturals.

Catnip filled toys. When I was younger I had a cat and I remember getting him catnip filled toys for Christmas. Most cats love these and you can find them in many different types and styles.

Cat danglers. Cats love these and you can find some great ones that will entertain them for hours. You can roll them up and stick them in the stocking. Get a couple of different ones for different types of entertainment.

A kitty garden. This is a pretty neat gift for a cat. You can grow your own tiny garden for your cat. They can nibble on this grass instead of something else. It is just a small patch of grass your cats will go nuts after.

As you can see there are a lot of great toys and treats you can get for your pet. Whether you go with something from Purina, a fun new toy or something more practical. Don’t forget your family pet when you are out Christmas shopping. They will love you for it.

How to Amp up the Holiday Spirit When Your Spouse Is Deployed

12/08/2014 By Rachel Tringali Marston

I love the holiday season. It’s my absolute favorite time of year because it brings families together to celebrate the wonderful things in our lives. When I was single and lived away from my parents, I always made my way back to my childhood home. It meant everything to be able to spend Christmas with them.

Then, I married my husband and for the first 2 years of our relationship, we were lucky to spend it together with my parents. It felt amazing that the most important things that I loved were together.

But, what if you have a loved one that can’t be home for Christmas because of military duty?

Military families are not strangers to separation. Last year, my husband couldn’t be home. I was bummed and seriously didn’t know how I was going to get through a holiday that was typically joyous for me. It’s easy to dismiss the holidays when your spouse is away, so I turned into a bonafide Grinch.

It’s not fair to yourself and the family members that can actually spend time with you this holiday season. Don’t forget the true spirit of the holidays and enjoy yourself and remember all the special moments outside the holiday season that makes it worth it.

Here are my top 6 ways to amp up the holiday spirit, when your spouse is deployed.

Stay with family. I exercise this rule a lot. I find that family is a wonderful backbone. Whenever I feel alone, I reach out to them. It’s understandable that sometimes flying or driving to family might be hard, but along your military journey, you’ve most likely made lifelong friends that are a part of your military family. The most important thing is to not be alone. Even with your beloved away, there are so many other people that care about you. Remember that.
Trim the tree and hang the stockings. Keep your family traditions alive and still do everything that you’ve done with your spouse around. Seriously, no cheating when decorating and if you do need help with anything heavy or new ideas, enlist your friends to help you.
Treat yourself to an unexpected gift. As you’re Christmas shopping for others in your family, throw in some items that you’ve been wanting yourself. Last year, I bought a pair of awesome black knee high boots. Yes, it was a little impractical, but I wear these boots every other day during the winter months. When I wear them this year, it’s a nice reminder of the things that I managed to do while he was away. Make sure you plan some “me” time.
Attend a holiday-related show. A friend took me to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Wow. Talk about getting into the holiday spirit! I loved it. There are tons of other shows out there that are holiday-themed. Local ballet companies perform The Nutcracker, so that’s a nice option. Take a look at your local theaters for any other shows or maybe plan a trip to a nearby city that is putting on a good show. Ask around for recommendations.
Plan (if you can) holiday Skype dates with your spouse. When my husband was away, I looked forward to the moments I could see his face. During the holiday season, it was extra special to see him because I was able to share with him everything going on. It meant so much to be able to have any time to talk face-to-face. Every Skype date helped me charge through the holiday season to our inevitable reunion.
Document the holiday season for your spouse. Although your spouse isn’t there in person, they are there in spirit. I’m sure they would appreciate anything that helps them imagine that they are home. The beauty of modern technology is that we have phones that can take pictures and video at any time. When you’re out and experiencing a fun festive activity, grab your phone and snap a few shots. At the end of the season, it’s fun to print everything or create an electronic album to share, so when your spouse comes back, you can relive the memories as if he was there.

What tips do you have for military spouses to enjoy the holiday season when their husbands are deployed? Please share them in the comments section.

10 Ways to Pay It Forward

12/05/2014 By Rachel Tringali Marston

As we say hello to December and full steam ahead to Christmas, we can’t help but get caught up with the shopping craze. I’m guilty. I have an internal clock that is counting down my shopping days.

Sometimes we can forget the underlying meaning of the season and miss out on great opportunities to give back to the community. These little acts make a big difference in people’s lives and it all adds up for a positive and promising future. The best part of random acts of kindness are that they are relatively easy to do and can give you a sense of fulfillment.

Want to feel good this holiday season? Pay it forward with these 10 simple ideas:

Help your neighbor. Does the couple across the street desperately need a date night? Or is your neighbor going through a deployment? Offer to watch the kids or head over for a chat. We’ve all been there and need that support.
Donate to Toys For Tots or any other charitable organization. It’s easy enough to piggyback another toy in your Christmas shopping and share with families in-need. Keep the love going after the holidays by volunteering with a local charity.
Pitch in for the next person’s coffee. If you’re like me, then you understand the need for coffee. It’s my fuel for the day. When you’re at your favorite coffee shop, let the barista know that you would love to buy a coffee for the next person in line, especially if you notice they are struggling a bit more than you are on that particular morning.
Double your typical tip to commissary baggers. I tend to start conversations with my commissary baggers, especially because I park far away to avoid the congestion closer to the entrance. On one of my first solo commissary adventures, I was particularly moved by a young teen’s determination to save money before he started college. He was the son of a soldier on post and starting his first semester away from home. His story stuck with me because I knew how it felt to be in his shoes. After that, I make it an effort to go the extra mile when I can. It’s just a few more dollars after all.
Sacrifice your parking or line spot to another person. Sometimes we have a sixth sense when it comes down to gauging if a person is in need. When you’re behind the wheel and see someone else that might need that closer spot, motion for them to take it and the same goes for a struggling mom or dad in line at the commissary or exchange.
Raid your closet. Donate items that you haven’t wore in about a year or so because let’s be honest, you probably won’t wear them again anyway. It’s a pre-PCS purge that feels good and helps others.
Host a get-together for a friend. Did you find out about a recent promotion or have another reason to celebrate? Take the time to put together a party in honor of someone else in your life.
Visit your local VA hospital or elderly care facility. Because of the military lifestyle, we may end up setting roots far from our immediate family, especially in our later years. My parents and grandparents live in completely different states– and here I am more than a thousand miles away from both. Try sharing a meal with an elderly couple or just having a conversation. You could learn so much from them and it could make you appreciate the bonds you have within your own family.
Give an unsolicited compliment. If I see another person with cute shoes or purse, I chime in and let them know. It’s a great way to keep the positivity going.
Smile when you can. When you’re having a particularly good day, smile at strangers while running your errands. Your small gesture could help another person get through their not-so-good day. Smiling is infectious!

How are you kind to neighbors and strangers this holiday season? Tell us in the comments section.

5 Tips for Hosting an Ugly Sweater Party This Holiday Season

12/03/2014 By Rachel Tringali Marston

‘Tis the season for holiday cheer, gift giving, hot cocoa, cozy fires, tasty cookies, festive parties…and ugly sweaters.

Yes, you read right, ugly sweaters.

Ugly holiday sweater parties have been springing up everywhere! In my opinion, the ugly sweater trend heated up as early millennials looked back at their amazingly tacky winter outfits of the ’80s. I know there are lots of gems in my family albums of 10-year-old Rachel wearing some intense snowman sweaters. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for me), all the pictures are at my parents’ house. Otherwise, I would have shared them here.

Naturally, the craze caught on real quick because it’s too much fun to relive the decade of bedazzled Christmas trees, stitching of reindeer– or better yet iron-on appliques. It’s a blast attending an ugly sweater holiday party, but a complete riot when you host your own knitted gala. Plan the perfect party with these 5 simple tips.

5 Tips for Hosting a Delightfully Ugly Christmas Sweater Party This Holiday Season

Award Prizes. Encourage your friends to go all out by creating a competition. It’s easy to print award certificates at home and head to the dollar store for budget-friendly frames or if you want to hand-make or personalize a gift for each category, go for it! Here are some category suggestions: “Best Thrift Store Find,” “Best DIY Sweater” and “Best Couple’s Sweater.”
Tacky Holiday Decorations. Everywhere. Add awesomely tacky decorations around your home. I’ve used construction paper cut-outs of sweater patterns to place on my furniture and appliances around the house (don’t forget the glitter). You could also use the same shapes and add them on the walls or make a Santa hat and put it on your framed pictures hanging on the walls. If you have extra ugly sweaters (maybe try raiding another family member or close friend’s closet), dress your dining room chairs or any other chairs around the house. I’m sure a trip to your local thrift store would give you more decor inspiration too.
Feed Your Ugly Sweater Attendees. Remember to be specific in your invitation regarding the food situation. That seems pretty obvious, but it could sometimes get confused with an ugly sweater party because there isn’t a set protocol. It’s OK to have a potluck and if you decide to go that route, let your guests know. If you’re planning on feeding attendees, let people know too, so they can arrive hungry.
Say Cheese! Create a photo booth. I absolutely love the photo booth idea because it gives a legitimate reason to document the event. Print out fun captions to put in those extra dollar store frames for people to hold up and grab some headband antlers and other headgear. A wonderful touch would be adding accessories from the ’80s like the big goggle eyeglasses (borrow your spouse’s issued BCGs and snap out the lenses) or dig out your grade school scrunchies. The more you have to include the merrier.
Rock Your Ugly Sweater with Pride. Aim to have the most ridiculous one at the party. With that said, don’t count yourself in the competition. It wouldn’t be fair now, would it?

Have you attended an ugly Christmas sweater party? Submit a photo of you wearing your ugly sweater to the monthly MilitaryShoppers photo contest. You could win a $50 shopping spree. The winner will be announced on December 31.

« Previous Page