Care Packages 101

If you're a military spouse, then chances are you've sent a few care packages in your time. Whether away at school, in the field, on staff duty, or during a deployment, our menfolk (or womenfolk!) can use a little TLC.

Care packages vary greatly. If the Hubs is headed out to the field, I usually gather a few snacks and treats for him, but nothing that he wouldn't want to carry around with him. For a long overnighter at the staff duty desk, I pack up a grocery bag of goodies including snacks, movies, and games.

However, deployment care packages are the Big Kahuna. They take time and thought to put together, and our soldiers especially need those reminders from home when they are half a world away. Depending on your location, the items you include in a care package will differ. For example, you don't want to send chocolate in the summer or to a hotter climate. Sometimes, the military prohibits certain items as well. You definitely don't want to get your soldier in trouble, so check with your FRG about any prohibited items before sending your package out.

There are all kinds of care packages. And there are many fun ways to get creative. Today, I'm going to focus on the basics, but keep a lookout for Care Packages 201, where I'll give you some cool inspiration for holidays, birthdays, and other fun events.

Getting started, you need the basics: a mailing box, labels, and tape.

I like to use the USPS Priority boxes for a couple reasons:
      a. If it fits, it ships!  This is a great advantage if you're shipping heavy items.
      b. Free box. No hunting for a box and worrying whether it will hold up. These boxes are free at your local post office.
      c. Discount! The rate for an APO/FPO box is currently $13.45, regardless of weight, which is $2 less than the regular rate for the same size box.

When you pick up empty boxes, also grab a handful of customs forms. It is much easier to fill these out at home, trust me. You're required to fill one out when shipping overseas, so don't forget! When filling out shipping labels, remember that you can no longer ship to "Any Soldier". The DoD requires that all packages be addressed to someone specific. If you're looking to help a soldier in need, but don't personally know any, there are many organizations you can work through. Check out this list of links on Military.com.

Keep in mind that shipping rules are constantly changing. You can check out the USPS restrictions here. For example, as of right now, lithium batteries are a prohibited item for international shipping.

Alternatively, some online stores will ship directly to APO/FPO addresses. Amazon can be a great resource. You can check out their restrictions here.

Once you've picked up your box and you know who you're shipping to, it's time to get busy with the goodies! Not all of the items here will be appropriate for every soldier, but it will provide a basic idea list.

Snacks: 

 Everyone loves food gifts! Here are some popular requested items...

1. Pudding cups
2. Beef jerky / Slim Jims
3. Sunflowers seeds / Pumpkin seeds
4. Pretzels / Chips, like Pringles (bubble wrap to prevent crushing)
5. Soup cups / Ramen noodles (if canned, check for pull tabs)
6. Dried fruit / freeze-dried vegetables
7. Trail mix / Nuts
8. Pop Tarts
9. Chewing Gum (look for gum not packaged in foil to help prevent melting)
10. Snack Cakes (keep an eye on expiration dates! Packages can take up to 4 weeks to arrive)
11.  Gatorade / Kool Aid / Crystal Light / Mio
12. Cookies (bubble wrap to prevent crushing, check expiration date)
13. Candy (that doesn't melt!)
14. Cheez-its / Cheese crackers
15. Coffee (pre-ground)
16. Canned fruit (check for pull tab!)
17. Spaghetti-Os / Canned Ravioli, etc. (get the pull tab kind!)
18. Granola bars / Protein bars
19. Peanut butter / Nutella
20. Tuna (in pouches)
21. Hot chocolate packets
22. Spices (salt, pepper, etc)
23. Popcorn
24. Gummy snacks
25. Applesauce

This is not by any means a complete list, but hopefully it gets your creative juices flowing. Check with your soldier about their accommodations. This will help determine what items you can send. Does he have a microwave? Coffee pot? Can opener? These are important questions to ask.

A few tips? Stock up on your soldier's favorite items when you see them on sale. I keep a cabinet of 'deployment goodies'. Another great place is the Dollar Tree, especially for candy items. Be careful when packing your boxes... if you buy mint-flavored gum, then the whole box will be minty fresh by the time it reaches your soldier. No one likes mint-flavored jerky! A good way to avoid this is to separate your goodie boxes into categories. Maybe pack your mint items in with a toiletries box, instead of with the rest of the food.

One of my "goodie" drawers

Hygiene & Toiletries: 

These items will be super important for your service member. You never know what type of facilities they can expect, so it's better if they are prepared.

1. BABY WIPES - I'm putting this first and in capital letters for a reason. This is one of the number one most requested items. No running water? It's all good when you've got baby wipes.
2. Tissues
3. Deodorant
4. Toothbrush / Toothpaste
5. Dental floss
6. Razors / Shaving cream (must be in tubes, no cans)
7. Loofah (find a manly color, don't send your Hubs a bright pink one!)
8. Foot powder
9. Hand sanitizer
10. Eye drops
11. Dryer sheets (dirty clothes? Dryer sheets help everything smell better until laundry day)
12. Scope
13. Q-tips
14. Chapstick / Lip balm
15. Sunscreen
16. All-in-one shampoo and body wash
17. Dry Skin lotion
18. Cough drops
19. Aspirin
20. Manicure kit (nail clippers, etc)
21. Shoe inserts
22. Vitamins
23. Air fresheners
24. Cold Medication

Your soldier may have other items they need/want. Ask them before they leave. Ship these items before they are requested. If your soldier calls to say he is out of deodorant, it can take weeks before your package will arrive. Be smart, keep these items on a regular schedule.  Ziploc anything that may break or spill! Double-bag if necessary.

Entertainment: 

Although some of these items may seem frivolous, remember that our soldiers are away from home, pretty much working all the time. Any relief and entertainment they get is well deserved.

1. Books
2. Magazines
3. Newspapers
4. Movies
5. Hand-held game systems / games
6. Batteries (AA, AAA, and 9 volt are popular)
7. Sudoku / Crossword puzzles / Word Finds (puzzle books)
8. Disposable cameras or new memory cards
9. Dice
10. Playing cards
11. Board games
12. Footballs / Frisbees
13. Hacky sack
14. Dominoes
15. Gag gifts (water balloons/guns, whoopie cushions, silly string)
16. Pens / pencils/ markers
17. Notebooks / Journals
18.  Headphones
19. Holiday decorations
20. iTunes gift cards
21. Visa gift cards
22. Amazon gift cards
23. Phone cards
24. Dog treats (for strays)
25. Cards and letters (blank cards are great too, so they can send them to family)
26. Stamps
27. Videos of family / friends with messages
28. Stress balls
29. Candles
30. Flags
31. Posters
32. Cigars / Cigarrettes (check regulations on these items!)
33. PHOTOS (your soldier needs to feel involved in your life at home; send photos often!)

This is by no means an all-inclusive list, just suggestions. I'll talk more about sentimental items and special holiday items in coming posts. You can really be creative, think of things that are special to you and your soldier.

Sentimental gift - an engraved compass

Miscellaneous: 

Some items may need only be sent once, or only occasionally. For example, inflatable furniture can be a nice addition to any room, but you certainly don't need to send a new piece in every care package.

1. Sewing kits
2. Hairbrushes
3. Sheets / Pillows / Blankets
4. Extra socks / underwear / t-shirts
5. Bandanas (black, brown, or army green)
6. Backscratcher
7. Ziploc bags
8. iPod
9. Laptop
10. Bible
11. Paper plates / bowls/ napkins
12. Inflatable chairs / pillows, or butterfly chairs
13. Candles / matches
14. Flashlight
15. Cups
16. Good towels
17. Handmade items
18. WebCam

Your soldier may need other items that aren't listed. Always ask! What do you need? What do you want? What are you craving? These are all good questions.

TIPS & Tricks:

I'll leave you with a few helpful tips and tricks. If you have anything to add to these lists, or any suggestions, please comment below. Your ideas are important to me! I'll be back again soon with another Care Package post, this time focusing on making each package special and unique.

1. Keep it personal and upbeat! Your soldier wants to hear from you. He doesn't just want a box full of snacks. Always include a note or letter. Try to stay positive in your messages, your care package is supposed to be a bright spot in his day, not a sad one.

2. Don't send chocolate if it's going to melt! Try a few fun alternatives. M&Ms generally hold up well, as does chocolate syrup. Just be sure to package properly so any leaks don't ruin your whole box.

3. Check expiration dates, and assume your package will take at least six weeks to reach your soldier.

4. Pack items tightly and carefully! Don't leave too much empty space for things to roll around. If it might be crushed or broken, invest in bubble wrap.

5. Listen to what your soldier has to say. Does he need shaving cream? Food? Does he want more photos? Pay attention, and try to send him what he needs.

6. Consider what facilities your soldier may have access to... i.e. don't send microwave popcorn if there is no microwave.

7.  If you're worried about a scent permeating your box (or if you want to send something that smells of your perfume), consider a vacuum sealer.

8. Think about including an extra mailing label in the box. If your package is damaged, or the label can't be read, then it can still be sent if the label on the inside is intact.

9. Check all your labels before sending. Ensure all is correct!

10.  Consider sending extra boxes to your soldier that he can share with others.

Deployments are never fun, but do your best to keep the relationship strong. A care package can mean everything to a soldier. Remember that they are away from home, and you both need this type of contact. Send your soldier empty cards and stamps, so he can send you letters in return. Love one another, and know that this separation is temporary.

An army spouse can do anything, even this! Care Packages 201 will be coming soon. Please share your ideas, tips, and tricks in the comments below.

Thanks for reading, everyone! 

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Breakfast in a Snap: Cream Cheese Cherry Danish

I LOVE BREAKFAST FOOD.

There, I've said it. It's true. I have a complete obsession with breakfast food. One of my favorite things (especially in the winter, for some odd reason) is to have breakfast for dinner. I love, love, love it! Only one problem...

The Hubs' idea of breakfast is a bowl of cereal. Whaaaaaat? He doesn't have the patience to wait for things to cook in the morning. Plus, the Hubs isn't a huge fan of breakfast to begin with. I don't know how we've stayed together this long! 

Oh yeah, it's because I love him, even his quirky food attitudes.  

Whenever we have company, I use that as an opportunity to expand the Hubs' horizons, since I've been unsuccessful in converting him thus far. Haha, he is stuck with breakfast then! Of course, I'm not an early riser, and I don't want to leave my guests waiting too long for that yummy wake-up call. So I'm always looking for recipes that are quick and easy, yet still look like I'm fancy. 

I'm not really fancy, but I like pretending. Another guilty pleasure. 

I've been dying to try out an idea for breakfast pastry for several months. Of course, I can't experiment on the Hubs, but I can always count on my buddy, Abby, to be my guinea pig. A few weeks ago, we got together very early one morning (6 a.m.!) for breakfast and then a photo walk. 

I swear we don't normally get together so early in the a.m.! This was a special circumstance, really. 

As early as it was though, it was also the perfect opportunity to try out my new pastry idea. 

Looks yummy, yes? 

Well, it's not only delicious, it's also pretty easy to make! It can be cooked in the morning, and served warm, OR you can make it the night before and serve cold to your guests. It's excellent either way. I know, because I snarfed down a good half dozen over a several day period. 

I compensated by limiting my chocolate intake. Sort of. 

ANYWAY. This is simple enough that even the Hubs could make it. Here's what you start with: 

The Ingredients

For once, I actually got all the ingredients in the picture! Oh, wait. Except for one. 

Maybe next time. 

To get started, you need a box of puff pastry (thawed overnight in the fridge), unless you really are fancy and know how to make your own. I haven't progressed quite that far yet. You also need cream cheese, cherry pie filling, an egg, vanilla extract, and a tablespoon of water (the forgotten ingredient!). To all that, add three varieties of sugar. 

That's right. You heard me. Three. Types. Of. Sugar. THREE. You need granulated sugar, confectioners' sugar, and raw sugar.

I compensated for this by purchasing "no sugar added" pie filling. That helps, right?

Humor the poor, delusional woman please.  

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Then, start by cutting your pastry into rough square/rectangle shapes. When you unfold the puff pastry, there are natural creases which are a great guideline. I cut down each crease which made three, long strips. Then, I cut each strip in half, for a total of 6 pieces. When you do that to both puff pastry sheets, you wind up with 12 total squares. 

One sheet puff pastry, cut into pieces

Place the pastry on a parchment lined cookie sheet. I like to set mine in the fridge while I prep the filling, so the dough doesn't get too soft. 

Time for the good stuff! Super simple. Blend together an 8 ounce block of cream cheese and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar. You want the mix to be smooth and creamy, like so:

 

Onto each pastry square, place about a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture, and 3 or 4 cherries from the pie filling. (Note: You will have a small amount of cream cheese filling left over. Use it on toast or bagels, or as a dip for fruit!) Next, bring the four corners of the dough together in the center and press to seal. Mmmmm...... 

Be sure to leave openings for ventilation! If you don't, the filling oozes out in all kind of weird places and you hear little pastry bombs going off in your oven. Trust me, it isn't pretty. 

One last step before you pop these babies in the oven. Beat together the egg and 1 tablespoon of water to make an 'egg wash'. Then, brush the egg wash over the pastry and sprinkle them all with a bit of raw sugar. Set in your pre-heated oven for 15-25 minutes. You want the pastries golden brown and scrumptious. 

While they're in the oven, whip up your glaze. Also super easy! Whisk together 1/2 cup of confectioners' sugar with 1 tablespoon milk and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla. If the glaze is too thick, add a tiny bit more milk. If it's too thin, sprinkle in more confectioners' sugar until it's the consistency you prefer. 

Drizzle the pastries with glaze while they are still a little warm from the oven, and viola! 

Cream Cheese Cherry Danishes! Nom nom nom nom.... excuse me while I gorge.

These are great for guests, because they look fancy without being too complicated. Also, you can prepare them in advance, and serve cold. Or make the morning of and serve warm! They're delicious either way. Even the Hubs approved! Of course, he ate them at lunchtime instead of breakfast, because he's weird like that. But still... he ate breakfast food! 

Happy baking, my friends! The recipe is listed below in the standard form. 

Thanks for reading, everyone! 

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The Standard Form:

Cream Cheese Cherry Danish

Ingredients:

2 sheets puff pastry, thawed in refrigerator overnight

1 can cherry pie filling

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

½ cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

3 tablespoons raw sugar

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

1 tablespoon milk

¼ teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. 

Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 6 squares/rectangles. Blend together the cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth. Scoop a tablespoon of cream cheese into the center of each square. Top with 3 cherries from the pie filling.

Pull the corners of the pastry together in the center, pinching to seal. Be sure to leave the slits open on the side for ventilation.

Place the pastries onto the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Beat the egg with the tablespoon of water. Use a pastry brush to brush the pastries with the egg wash. Sprinkle the pastries with raw sugar.

Back at 375 degrees for 15-25 minutes, until golden brown.

While the pastries are baking, make the glaze. Whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla. If the glaze is too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar. If it is too thick, add a tiny bit more milk.

Drizzle pastries with the glaze while they are still warm from the oven. Enjoy!! 

Thanks for reading, everyone! 

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The Emerald Isle: Part 1 (Dublin)

Becky and I on the River Liffey, Dublin 

At last! I promised you would see an Ireland post, and here is the first of many. This trip is one of my favorites, ever. Ireland is a beautiful country, full of friendly and interesting people. I hope you enjoy the story of my travels as much as I enjoyed the travel itself...

My vacation to the Emerald Isle began with a long weekend in New York. Becky and I spent several days exploring the streets of Manhattan before catching our plane ride across the Atlantic. If you want to catch up on our trip, check out the posts here:

Still My Favorite Place... NYC (Part 1)

Still My Favorite Place... NYC (Part 2) 

Still My Favorite Place... NYC (Part 3)







As you see, we left NY happy, and ready to embark on a new adventure. Our flight departed the United States mid-evening, but was scheduled to arrive in Dublin early the next morning. We were prepared to hit the ground running... all we needed was a little sleep.

The transatlantic flight provided time for some shut-eye, but it was difficult to drift off with excitement humming through my system. If anyone out there has a surefire way to fall asleep on a plane, please share! I need all the help I can get.

I did, eventually, pass out (with my fingers crossed, hoping I wouldn't snore!). When next I opened my eyes, we were landing in Dublin.

My first view of Ireland, out the airplane window

You've seen other views from my window, but now it's time to get off the plane and the tour bus. I couldn't wait to stretch my legs and walk around.

Normally, your first stop would be the hotel; for a change of clothes, maybe a shower, or perhaps a nap. Not us, though! We stepped off the plane and straight into our first tour. After a quick stop at the ATM (The Republic of Ireland uses the Euro, and Northern Ireland uses the Pound Sterling), we boarded the bus and drove to Glasnevin Cemetery.

We were greeted with a traditional Irish breakfast. Thank goodness, because boy oh boy, did I wake up hungry!

The Full Irish

The Full Irish Breakfast traditionally includes rashers of bacon, sausages, fried eggs, blood sausage, potatoes, and fried tomatoes. Also, tea and toast (or soda bread) are served. For us Americans, coffee was also readily available.

Luckily, I'm a HUGE fan of tea, and all of the other items on my plate. Except, ahem... blood sausage. There is only one word to describe it: EWWWWWWWWW! Blood sausage is exactly what it sounds like: sausage made with blood (and other things). Yuck.

However, I did taste it. I'm a big believer in trying new things, and I was hoping I'd like it.

I didn't.

I'm not sure anyone else did either. Maybe it's an acquired taste.

Everything else was delicious to the max! I have a good friend who, over the years, has lectured me on the difference between European bacon and American bacon (you know who you are!). I've been waiting for an opportunity to test the difference for myself, and...

She was right. American bacon is complete rubbish. And now I can't ever go back to my blissful ignorance! The bacon on my plate was thick and meaty, with hardly any fat. Imagine a cross between a ham steak and so-called 'bacon'. Put those together in your mind, and you'll get a better idea of the absolute fabulousness I was eating every morning.

I completely blame the bacon for the 3 pounds I gained on vacation. And the scones. Oh, and the butter....

ANYWAY. Onward.

The tour of Glasnevin is taken on foot. Our guide was not only knowledgable, but entertaining. The tour normally lasts around 90 minutes, so wear your sneakers!

Many famous people are buried in Glasnevin, including Daniel O'Connell, Michael Collins, and Charles Stewart Parnell. The cemetery contains the largest round tower in Ireland, at 51 meters high. Directly beneath the tower is the family crypt of Daniel O'Connell.

Inside the crypt of Daniel O'Connell 

Glasnevin is actually listed on TripAdvisor as the #1 attraction in Dublin, so don't miss out! The tour is inexpensive, and the history lesson is a wonderful introduction to this beautiful country. My favorite thing? Just listening to our guide's amazing accent!

Here's the view (not from a window this time!). For my iPhone and iPad friends, I know you can't see these slideshows since they use flash. I'm working on a solution, but so far I haven't discovered the fix. After each post, I'll be adding the photos to my albums on Facebook. You can follow me there for a look at all the pictures!  




After the tour, we wandered the gift shop for a bit before climbing back aboard our bus. Becky and I were traveling with a group of travel agents and their companions. In our case, Becky is the travel agent and I'm the companion.

Don't you wish you had a Becky?!

We were pals way before she started this cool job, but it's an awesome perk in a great friend. The perks of being friends with me? I do all the cooking! Though I'm not sure it compares to a travel buddy, it's all I've got.

The next stop on our itinerary? Kilmainham Gaol, a.k.a. the prison, #3 on TripAdvisor. What's #2, you ask? Dinner theaters! No worries, I have some great videos from those too, just not yet...

Kilmainham Gaol

Many leaders of Irish rebellions were imprisoned here, even executed on the grounds. One particular story is that of Miss Grace Gifford, eventually to be Mrs. Joseph Plunkett. An Irish artist, she's most known for marrying Joseph Plunkett just hours before his execution (by firing squad) at Kilmainham Gaol. He was executed for his role in an Irish uprising during Easter week of 1916. In 1923, Grace herself was arrested during the Civil War, and spent 3 months incarcerated at Kilmainham Gaol. Inside her cell, she painted a picture of the Virgin Mary.



The tour of Kilmainham Gaol was another great way to steep ourselves in some Irish history before exploring the rest of Dublin city. Many of us were losing our stamina, jet-lag severely kicking our American butts. After the tour, our bus finally dropped us at the hotel, where we had a few hours before a group meal.

What to do with several hours of time in Dublin? Much of the group chose to nap and refresh. This might have been the more intelligent thing to do. But since when have Becky and I ever followed the more practical path? I wasn't about to start in Ireland!

Instead of sleep and a shower, we chose a rambling walk along the city streets and canals of Dublin. We were armed with jackets, umbrellas, and most importantly, our cameras. The hotel provided us with a "map". What else could we possibly need?

Ahem. A sense of direction may have been useful...

Carefree and blissfully unaware of how lost we could become, Becky and I ambled along the city streets, absorbing everything in our path. We snapped hundreds of photos, shopped in a multitude of stores. We worked our way to Grafton Street, popular for shopping and people watching.



We emptied our pockets a bit amongst the shops. We each came equipped with a list of souvenirs to find and purchase, both for ourselves and others. On our first foray, I picked up a t-shirt for the Hubs, and a bit of chocolate for myself (Shhhhh.... the chocolate never made it back stateside!)

The afternoon flew by, and soon our tummies were rumbling. Breakfast was a distant memory. Finding a pub for lunch was no problem. It's easy to find LOTS of pubs, all you have to do is turn your head! We discovered Quays, and bopped in for lunch.

We didn't indulge in a pint, for fear it would make our jet-lagged brains sleepy. At least if we'd sprung for a Guinness, I could have blamed our later troubles on the alcohol...







Lunch was wonderful, and renewed our lagging energy. Though we didn't have much time left for exploring, there were a few spots we wanted to stop at on our way back to the hotel.

Temple Bar is one of the oldest pubs in Dublin, established in 1840, and an item we wanted to scratch from our list. Though we wandered aimlessly for a bit, we did run across the bar eventually. This wandering should have jingled a warning bell in my brain... but it didn't.

The Temple Bar, Dublin 

I blame the awesomeness of city streets for our lack of concern. The pubs of Dublin truly fascinated me. They were all different, yet somehow the same. The atmosphere was welcoming, and provided respite from the occasional rain sprinkles. Live music is common most nights, and the taps flow freely.

Who wouldn't want to see as many pubs as possible? Even when we started back for the hotel, there was no worry. Becky and I calculated our time, and determined there was plenty of it.

Hahahaha. How naive we were!

In a foreign country, with no working cell phone, we assumed an hour was plenty of time to get back to our hotel. And it would have been... if we had any idea where we were going.

My first bit of advice to you: NEVER trust a hotel "map".

The "map" we were given was a joke. Badly labeled, and poorly photocopied. Where we had easily found the city center upon leaving the hotel, now we couldn't find our way back. Streets that seemed familiar simply led us farther in the wrong direction. We tried turning the map upside-down, sideways, and inside out. Nothing made it any easier to read.

My second bit of advice to you: LOOK UP. 

Street signs are not the same in Ireland. Or most of Europe, for that matter. In America, you're used to handy green signs, at eye level, on each street corner. This is not so overseas. The street signs are on buildings for the most part, high above your head. And they are not at every intersection. If you need proof, look back at the photo of Temple Bar (above). The blue sign on the left, above the bar, is the street sign.

My third piece of advice to you: ASK for directions. 

We actually did ask for directions. We're not men, after all. Only problem? I don't think the people we asked knew where they were either! First we walked this way, and then someone else told us to go that way, when what we should have done was gone the other way entirely.

Whew. It was rough; not so rough that I didn't take photos, but rough enough. Obviously, we eventually found our hotel again. However.

We were a good thirty minutes late for dinner. But the important thing is that we made it back! Plus, all the extra walking helped work off some of the bacon I ate at breakfast, right?

Let me live in my fantasy world for a while.

So, our first day in Dublin was quite the adventure! I loved every minute of it, even the parts where we were lost. Becky and I turned in early, right after dinner. Jet-lag had finally caught up to us. We needed our sleep, because our second day in Dublin promised to be just as action-packed as the first. For now, I'll leave you with some pictures from the city streets. I can't wait to share the rest of our adventure with you!  

Thanks for reading, friends! 

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