Easter 2010

As you can see the Easter Bunny stops everywhere :)

In addition to Easter 2009 ideas here are some fresh ones:

• if your soldier is religious you can send them items in order to help them celebrate this time of year
  
• they sell little egg shaped cupcake tins and you can decorate them like real eggs
• send items that your soldier can pass out to the local children and act as the Easter Bunny even though it is not celebrated overseas
• make a basket that does NOT include candy- think of other items that might be enjoyed like books, magazine, music, or a photo album

Any other suggestions? Feel free to comment! I'm a little rusty on the ideas!

<3 11W

Veterans Day

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy (early) Veteran's Day! If you are lucky enough to have your veteran home with you, there are some free meals at Applebees ( Nov 11th) and Golden Corral ( Nov 16th) for them to get- just need to show proof of service.

Also from Nov 12-15 Old Navy is giving a 30% military discount instead of their regular 10%.

Thanks to every military member for their service to our country :)

<3>

Red, White and Blue

The 4th of July is upon us and it is my soldier's (as well as my) favorite holdiay!
This package is filled with everything to help him celebrate (except the fireworks of course).
I ordered most of these items off of Oriental Trading.

• Red White and You Sweethearts Candy- proceeds go towards the USO
• Red, White and Blue (RWB) Leis
• flag bandanas
• RWB rubber bracelets (like the livestrong ones)
• inflatable Uncle Sam (they have been using their air compressor on the Stryker to inflate things)
• Patriotic Pinata
• "Happy 4th of July" Banner
• RWB glow stick necklaces
• mini flags on sticks
• RWB rock candy
• flag sunglasses
• RWB mini beach balls
• Flag koozies for their "near beer"
• RWB gum balls

<3>

Fiesta!

Cinco de Mayo is coming up shortly so I figured it would be the perfect time to send a fiesta.

• Tortilla chips
• Salsa
• Queso
• Pinata- you know they will like hitting something with a stick
• Candy to stuff the pinata
• Sombreros
• Hot sauce
• Cardboard or inflatable cactus
• Maracas
• Ballons

Easter Bunny

Here are some ideas for an Easter box.
Take a plastic bag (whatever size) put some Easter grass in it, fill up some plastic Easter eggs and place them inside the bag. It makes an Easter basket without the mess! If you feel like it make a bunch of eggs so your man can hide them around and let his friends find some too.

Other things to include:

• jelly beans
• peeps
• skittles
• gummi candy
• cookies
• granola bars
• Little Debbie cakes
  
• m&ms
• little stuffed bunny
• inflatable bunny
• cotton candy
  
• bunny ears
• find some pictures of you as a little kid at Easter so he can see how cute you were!
• have an Easter egg hunt with your kids a bit early and make a video so he can watch them find eggs
• put some bunny ears on yourself or your kids or pets and take some photos to make him laugh
• instead of Easter Bunny send him Playboy bunny stuff!

<3 11W

Lean, Mean and Green

This is perfect for St. Patrick's Day or just because he likes green haha.

• green beads
• hat
• shamrock glasses
• green wig
• fake tattoos- to go with the real ones lol
• "Kiss Me I'm Irish" Shirt or other sayings
• Green M&Ms
• John Deere Items (they even make gummi snacks)
• light up pins
• "Blood Makes the Grass Grown Green" by Johnny Rico
• Green Boxers
  
• St. Patty's themed party cups just to spice it up
• a 4 leaf clover for good luck-if you cant find a real (if you find a real one laminate it my friend keeps one in her wallet like that and has had it for years) or cardboard one-just draw one on the package

<3 11W

Birthday in a Box

Send your soldier Birthday in A Box.

Go to the party store or Oriental Trading and get funny stuff like GI JOE, Hannah Montana, Spongue Bob, Over the Hill etc:

• cups
• party hats
• plates
• napkins
• noise makers
• treat bags
• streamers
• Oriental Trading has personalized banners
  
• pinata (and the treats to go inside it)
• cookies or cupcakes (keep the icing on the side)
• video of you, family and friends wishing him a happy birthday
• cake in a jar
• even a birthday cake!
• regular balloons
• helium balloons already inflated (tell them you are shipping it and to make it extra full)

Send this to him if you think he will "invite" his friends or send it to one of his buddies so that he can properly embarrass him on his big day!

Cute Little Things

Random Things to Do-this will be updated periodically

• Take a picture of yourself everyday-before you go to work or before bed etc and email or send it to your soldier once a week so its like they "saw" you everyday!
• Stars and Stripes Newspaper publishes free ads online and in print for different holidays- you can even post a picture!
• Hallmark Recordable cards-you can record your voice or anything you want for 10 sec
• Read Military Spouse Magazine's Tip of the Day- they have cute little ideas you may want to throw in your next package
  

<3 11W

Sweets for my Sweetie

Valentine's Day

I am sending this one along for Valentine's Day but it is perfect for any soldier with a sweet tooth.

I went to Big Lots and they have a bunch of stuff and its cheap!

• Stuffed animal or pillow proclaiming love lol
• V-Day card
• candy hearts
• M&Ms
• heart shaped cakes from Little Debbie
• heart shaped cookies
• gummi bears
• skittles
• pudding
• gum
• Box of silly valentines for your soldier to give out to his buddies
• I got a cheap picture frame that says i love you and put a picture of us in it. I wrapped it up in plastic bags to give it some cushion-hope it doesn't break!
• Any other sweet treats your soldier likes!

Also you can personalize your own M&Ms here: http://www.mymms.com/
They are kind of expensive but it looks fun and I'm sure your thought will be appreciated.

<3 11W