It’s that time of year again when the holidays are rapidly approaching. They are especially difficult if your spouse is deployed and you have children who have expectations. When they are younger it is easier as they don’t know it is a holiday.

     The first Thanksgiving my husband was deployed my sons were two and three years old. My Mother came to visit which was nice but when it came time for Thanksgiving neither of us felt like making the effort. In my family Thanksgiving is an extravaganza, with ham and turkey and so many side dishes the table is covered. It is finished off with signature dishes like my pecan pie and my mother’s pumpkin chiffon pie. All is this is served on the good china with freshly polished silver. Obviously, that was too much cooking for two. Not wanting to go out to eat we opted for the Cracker Barrel which had take out meals on Thanksgiving. They offered plates with all the Thanksgiving favorites, so we ordered two and I ran over to pick them up. It was heaven. Just the right size and no cooking.

     Sometimes during deployments, I just wouldn’t want to be around anyone during the holidays whereas other times I was feeling more social and wanted to be around people. In that case a Thanksgiving Potluck is in order. Get together with others in your boat and join for a nice meal. Many of the neighborhoods on military installations have community centers which you can use. Some even have playgrounds for the kids. Decide how everyone is going to participate and plan what everyone is to bring. I like to use www.perfectpotluck.com. You can set up a meal and decide what you need everything from food and drinks to plates and utensils. You then blast it out to all you want to attend in one email. Then everyone can sign up and see what others are bringing so there isn’t any repetition. Consider asking for people to chip in for a big turkey (you can even put a donation as something to bring to cover cost of turkey). Make sure to consider cleanup. Oftentimes everyone heads out leaving one or two people to handle the mess. Be considerate and help.

     During deployments it can be hard when your civilian friends and family are celebrating so getting together with your military family makes sense as they totally understand what you are going through. How do you handle the holidays when your spouse is deployed?

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

It’s that time a year again when thoughts turn to ways to honor our Veterans. Many of our older Veterans reside in state Veteran’s homes. These homes care for our Veterans and provide various levels of care. Many residents are just hindered by mobility and the ability to care for themselves while their minds remain as sharp as a tack. One area where there just isn’t enough funding is the activity fund which provides stimulating activities for the residents. Every Veteran’s Home has its own needs so check to see what they need. Visit the website (just google your state and Veteran’s Home) and look for information on volunteering and donations. After speaking with Terry Nisbet at the VA Home in Orting, Washington I got a sense of what you can do to help.

• Visit – Call and arrange a time to visit with a few friends. This does not require formal training and residents love to have someone stop by and chat. If you feel called to volunteer more there are training programs depending on what you will be doing.
• Memory Care and Music – This program provides and MP3 player with a curated playlist of the music from the Veteran’s favorite era. The needs for this program are iTunes gift cards which go to purchase songs that aren’t in their library and MP3 players.
• Headphones with 6 feet cords, no ear buds. Residents that have TVs in their rooms need to plug in, so they don’t disturb their roommates.
• Donations for the activity fund. This helps pay for activities for the Veterans like an outing for lunch at a local restaurant.
• Hand Made Cards – These are very popular particularly the ones made by children. Consider having your children make some and then take time to make a visit.

Electric Razors

• Pocket Talkers – These fit in a pocket and the resident wears headphones and it helps them hear better.

Each home has its own requirements. The VA home in Orting is requesting a Juiceman Juicer because they have a group interested in health and is currently learning about and drinking healthy juice. They are also looking to replace their large white canopy awnings for outdoor events. So, check in with your local VA home to see what their needs are. Consider asking for donations to purchase an item they might need. Most places get a buzz of activity around the holidays but remember Veterans live in the homes year-round and would love visitors any time. My father currently resides in a VA Home and he said there is lots of activity during the week with physical therapy, appointments etc., but the weekends are slow and boring. Weekends are a good time to visit.

Let’s not forget our Veterans especially those residing in VA homes. Many are from the Vietnam era where they faced many challenges without the support our military has today.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

Summer is over and you’re ready to explore your location in some cooler weather (finally). Your local military base has a wealth of resources to help you and your family or friends create tons of exciting adventures all fall!

Jump Into Fall with On-Base Resources and Events

The military community, wherever you’re located, is the place to be for cool trips, fun festivals and interesting adventures.

Fall Festivals for Families On Base

Units, family readiness groups and morale centers are hosting all the festivals this fall!

Check out the social media feed for your particular location, including the community services page (MWR, MCCS, etc.), to stay in the loop about what’s happening every day.

Many bases will host Fall Festivals, Halloween events and even fitness shindigs this month – and through the end of the year. There will be lots of crafts and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Fall is also a prime time for adults-only ventures, like wine festivals. From free wine tastings, like the one hosted recently at Joint Base Fort Myer-Henderson Hall, to paid events, like the wine tasting parties in Okinawa.

No fall festivals on your base? No problem! Rent party supplies, like chairs and tables, or set aside time in a community event space for a DIY fall festival. Invite your neighbors, folks from the unit or keep it small with a close group of friends. Play games, eat comfort foods and kickback while enjoying all that fall offers!

Fitness for Military Communities in Autumn

There are tons of military fitness events, from races to expos, held on military bases around the country and world right now.

Check with your on-base gym and community services or morale and welfare offices for specifics. For example, there are sometimes cool post-Thanksgiving exercise-a-thons at the gym or Friday Fun Runs hosted by MCCS or MWR.

There are also giant fitness events that attract participants or competitors on a much larger scale. DC, for example, hosts both the Army 10 Miler and Marine Corps Marathon races which draw runners from around the world. Racers: look for the 2020 registrations for these events next spring!

Beyond events, many classes and fitness groups at the on-base gyms offer seasonal classes with specific start and end dates. These sometimes come at an additional cost, but also offer specialty services like BootCamp fitness or advanced yoga practices. Check with your fitness center for their latest fitness schedule.

Get Off Base for Adventures

Want to go bigger? Head over to ITT for incredible opportunities beyond the base gates. You can snag tickets to events, attractions and even complete vacation packages, too!

Look for unique-to-your-area events, like fall foliage tours or local amusement parks, that you can’t do anywhere else. Fall might be a great time to go on a Hornblower tour in San Diego or go to a college game in SEC country.

Head over to Outdoor Recreation, or your base’s equivalent, to snag a ton of cool outdoor equipment for super cheap and sometimes free! From camping gear to kayaking needs, this office has got your bases covered. This is a great opportunity to try a new outdoor activity without the pressure of needing to like it passionately because you’ve invested a ton of money in the supplies. When you’re done, simply return the equipment and walk away.

If you’re looking for a true out-of-town experience, ITT and MilitaryShoppers can totally help! ITT and MilitaryShoppers Travel Club both have inside tracks on the sweetest deals at the hottest properties around the world. From hotels in big cities to luxurious resorts, you can find all sorts of great places to explore!

Or try military-owned hotels and resorts. You can leaf-peep in Seoul at the Dragon Hill Lodge, explore Hawai’i from the on-base lodges or take in Oktoberfest at Eidelweiss in Germany.

Do all the things! And ITT will help you offer them cheaper than face-value, at the gate prices.

Halloween Happenings On Bases Everywhere

Get spooky this fall with cool events on-base!

One of the best places to trick-or-treat is actually on base. Houses are often totally decorated for the holiday with residents going all out on the candy! Many houses give out full-size candy bars, too.

Beyond traditional trick-or-treating, there are also tons of trunk-or-treat opportunities. Different organizations sponsor different events on and around military bases.

Pick your costumes and grab your bags for a fun, spooky Halloween on base!

What’s happening on or around your military base this fall? We’d love to check out your fave fall events!

As Military Families we tend to gravitate towards our own and with multiple deployments and the stress of military life sometimes our military friends are the only ones that can understand what you are going through but having civilian friends are important too. They are often a source of information that your military friends may not know about the local area and having a civilian friend can just feel normal and get you away from talking about military life.

My friend Kim has been that friend for me. She is the one that knows all the cool things like the bakery that sells this unique cinnamon bread which is so tightly swirled it looks like the rings on a tree trunk. Kim knows all the locals go to a certain marina to get the best deal on crab. She is my go-to source of information for my local area. I love that she knows about the warehouse coat sale and so many other things.

Meeting civilian friends can be a challenge as many already have friends from 1^st grade or plenty of family in the area and just don’t have room for a new friend in their lives. Don’t get discouraged, there is always someone who will be open to a military friendship. So how do you meet new civilian friends? My top three places: church, school and the gym.

Church is a great place to meet people. We have always chosen to attend a church off the military installation. Sundays to me means getting away from the military culture even if it just an hour. Most church communities no matter what your faith have a variety of groups you can join. This is an easy way to meet new people as organizations always need volunteers. For families with small children many churches have a Mom’s Money Out for a small fee or a co-op where you volunteer in exchange for childcare. Working with other Moms gives you a chance to get to know each other and you have children in common.

Another way to meet friends is through your children’s school or sports team. We always sent our children to Catholic schools which had mandatory volunteer hours. I can remember working on the teacher appreciation luncheon and I met so many nice people. Volunteering at your PTA will help you meet other parents who care about education.

Over the years I’ve met lots of friends over shared workouts. Although I appreciate being able to use the gyms on post for free, sometimes it is just too much testosterone for me. Some workouts are more geared to meeting people than others, so you need to find what works for you. A fitness facility located near a coffee shop makes it easy to interact with people. “Oh, I saw you at the gym, how do you like Missy’s class”. It is a natural opening that elicits a response and maybe even a “Would you like to join us?”

Don’t be afraid to say, “I just moved here.” Asking advice on local things is an easy opener to get a conversation going. My friend, Kim and I started as casual acquaintances as she worked at my children’s school. After working with her on a volunteer project we became friends. The most recent thing I learned from her is the best neighborhood in the area. We both bought homes there and now walk in the mornings. Since we decided to retire I now have what I hope to be a lifetime friendship.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

I ran a wine club for a few years for our military spouses’ club. Each month we would have a different theme but we always did a Halloween Candy Wine Tasting in October. This is super fun and a huge hit because who doesn’t love wine and chocolate. Decide for your event if you want to do a tasting or a pairing. You can Google Halloween candy wine tasting and a variety of charts and websites will come up. I personally like Vivino because not only does it provide a chart with the pairing it also provides tasting notes from partner sommeliers like Joel Caruso who pairs Pinot Noir with KitKats.

“Although variations of Pinot Noir can be dramatic, they always tend to carry a tense and nuanced red fruit quality. This makes the milk chocolate and wafer combo feel like a chocolate dipped raspberry pulled straight out of the fridge. I’d suggest terroir driven Pinot Noirs like those from Sonoma Coast or Burgundy that will bring out earthiness and tannin for a more complex pairing. Tannin is mellowed by the chocolate, and the earthy qualities can create a mushroom-flavored effect,” says Caruso on the  Vivino website.

To plan your event, decide which candies you will want to pair with wine. For a group pick about six candies and select mostly chocolate and try a few like starburst or jolly ranchers. Next pair with the wine. Reds go very well with chocolate while tart candies pair well with sweeter whites such as Moscato and gewürztraminer. Plan water for each guest and add one or two charcuterie platters with meats and cheeses with a French baguette to help break up the sweetness from all that candy. Provide each guest with a pen and small notebook or printed sheets to take notes with. I think it is important to have a leader read tasting notes like the one above from Vivino and have everyone taste one wine at a time. It is interesting to hear each person’s take on the wine you are tasting.

 For a more casual event, have a post Halloween impromptu wine get together with left over Halloween candy and have guests just bring a bottle of wine they have at home.  Make up your own pairings based on what everyone brought. It is a fun way to “wine” down after all the Halloween chaos.

If you want to learn more about wine check with your local military spouses club. Many have wine subclubs and it is a great way to gain more experience in a comfortable environment.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

Yeah, a blow out football party in the barracks is possible. Yeah, you might get noise complaints. No, it might not be looked upon kindly by your CoC. Should you do it? Heck, yes!

Host a Blow Out Football Party in Your Barracks Room

It’s fall, which means football season. Whether you’re a die-hard SEC fan or you prefer the highly paid athletes of the NFL, football games call for parties.

If you can’t get to the stadium to tailgate, you can still invite some battle buddies to your space for a super chill game night bash.

(Okay, you can totally use these tips outside of the barracks, too)

Make Like Mom & Slow Cook

Nothing says football like food – and lots of it! Keep your energy going for the whole game or day with hearty, stick-to-your-ribs dishes. Just like Mom used to make.

Plus, if you can invest in a slow cooker, you’re going to open up a whole new world of food away from the chow hall. Total bonus.

Slow-Cooked Ribs

You’ll need:

• slow cooker, the bigger the better
• 1-2 racks of ribs (fewer racks for a smaller cooker)
• your favorite BBQ sauce
• can of Coke or Dr. Pepper
• seasonings: paprika, cinnamon (trust me), salt, pepper, brown sugar, cloves
• onion, sliced into rings

How to:

1. Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray; chop the onion into rings
2. Put a layer of onion on the bottom, then a layer of ribs – breaking them into smaller chunks to fit the cooker; repeat layering until all ribs and onions are used
3. Dump bottle of BBQ sauce + can of soda + seasonings of your choice into the slow cooker
4. Set on low for 6-8 hours
5. Eat

Slow-Cooked Meatball Subs

You’ll need:

• frozen pre-cooked meatballs
• 1-2 jars your favorite marinara sauce
• sub rolls
• cheese and toppings for making meatball subs

How to:

1. Add frozen meatballs and sauce to slow cooker
2. Cook on low for 3-4 hours OR high for 1-2 hours
3. Serve meatballs with rolls and toppings

Round out your feast with chips, dips and salsa. If you’re more health-minded, and you should be because that PFT deadline is closing in, reach for hummus and veggie sticks. You can get pre-sliced veggies at the Commissary!

For a no-prep meal, order a bunch of sandwich meats and cheeses from the deli. Provide some sub rolls and toppings for DIY hoagies!

Prep the Tech

Honestly, you’re probably better at this part than me so I’ll leave the logistics and wiring up to you. (But 100% take my word on the cooking – I’m really good at feeding a group of hungry Marines!)

Basically, you’re going to want to make sure that you have optimized your viewing options. You’re not a one-game kind of crowd.

Set up multiple screens – TVs, laptops, iPads – to watch several games at once. Work with your buddies to combine your financial resources and tech know-how. You’re going to want to make sure that you have access to all the networks and viewing platforms. Do this part before the weekend. Or, actually, I’m guessing you’ve got this covered.

Put Your Field Gear to Good Use

Got some clean(ish) sleeping bags or camp stools? Pull out the field gear to create slightly more comfortable seating options for everyone.

Just maybe shake everything out once or twice outside. No one wants to be surprised by a huntsman spider on their head, am I right?

Word to the Wise

Gents (and ladies), if you’re hosting this shindig in or around your barracks room, it pays to keep a cool (and soberish) head on your shoulders.

Don’t be obnoxiously intoxicated. That’s a bonafide way to get extra PT on Monday or NJPed with litter picking. No one wants that, but especially not you. Having Top rip you a new one first thing is extremely unpleasant.

Watch the underage drinking. If you’re drinking around those who are under 21 years old, be on your guard. It’s still technically illegal to knowingly serve alcohol to people under the legal age.

Keep the noise down – someone might be trying to sleep off a few weeks in the field. Remember how tired you were after a few nights or weeks spent on the hard ground, “camping” with your closest buds in the cold, fall air? Yeah, that guy down the hall just got back and he’s tired. Be respectful of his sleep.

Most importantly: Do not, under any circumstance, drink and drive. Getting a DUI can often spell the end of your promising military career and a black mark on your permanent record. Plus, you could seriously injure or kill someone – yourself included. If you or any of your buddies need to leave the barracks post-game, call a cab, a ride-share or designate a sober driver.

Where do you go to watch the big game when you’re living in the barracks? Share your best tips with us!