Holidays

Send Cards and Packages to the Troops for the Holidays

Holidays are an especially hard time for deployed military service members and their families. The long separation, missing birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays tells how real the sacrifice is to those serving in our military – Navy, Army, Marines and Coast Guard.

You can help by sending greeting cards, letters of appreciation, or postcards. You may also want to send care packages that include a little more than just a greeting.

Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes Program

The Red Cross collects and distributes holiday cards to American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world.

Tips When Writing Out Holiday Cards for the Military

Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
Only cards are being accepted. Do not send letters.
Do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
Each card does not need its own envelope, as cards will be removed from all envelopes before distribution
Do not send cards with glitter. Many of these cards will be delivered to military and veterans medical facilities and the glitter could interfere with a patient’s recovery

There is no longer a national P.O. Box for the program. Instead, Holiday Mail for Heroes is being conducted at the Red Cross office in your local community. Check with your local Red Cross for times and locations of events and for opportunities to get involved.

For more information visit www.redcross.org/holidaymail

Connect with fellow card senders through social media channels and help us get the word out through Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaymail #GiveWithMeaning

If you are interested in helping sort and deliver cards, please contact a participating chapter in your area to see how you can help.

How can people support other Red Cross programs that help members of the military and their families?
Supporting Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces work is simple and we encourage you to make a financial donation by donating online or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Any Soldier Program

This site originally started to help out a specific unit in the Army and that is why they use the word soldier. Today it is for ANY soldier whether in the Army (Soldiers), Marines, Navy Sailors) or Air Force (Airmen).

To participate you select one or more Soldiers from the Where to Send page. You will notice the Soldier’s address includes the line, “ATTN: Any Soldier^®” . The Soldiers are volunteers for this effort, they will see the “Attn” line, and will put your letters and packages into the hands of Soldiers who don’t get much or any mail. This effort is 110% voluntary.

Any Soldier provides help on the What to Send and How to Send pages.

You send your support, and maybe some stuff, directly to whatever unit or units you want, you don’t send us anything. PLEASE read the entire web site before you send anything as we want you to be informed and comfortable with this effort.

AnySoldier.com is an ongoing effort and not just for the holidays so take a look and see how you can participate throughout the year.

Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America’s mission, Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part by coordinating wreath laying ceremonies on the second Saturday of December at Arlington, as well as veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

Get involved or sponsor a wreath, find a location near you.

Dollar Tree Care Packages

Looking for ways to honor and support the service men and women, both active duty and veterans, who protect our security and defend our freedom? Show your support with care packages filled with necessities, snacks, and fun activities

Soldiers appreciate basic hygiene items such as soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, shave cream, hand sanitizer, body lotion, and lip balm. Extra socks are also always welcomed.
No care package for a soldier would be complete without some snacks such as crackers, water, beef jerky, chips, nuts, and more.
Antibacterial wipes or baby wipes are a great item — they use them to clean themselves and their weapons.
Tuck in some pain reliever such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or Aleve®.
Add some items for relaxation and fun such as playing cards, pens, paper, word finds, and more. “AA” batteries are also great for CD players, flashlights, and other portable devices.
Seal items in zip-seal bags. This will help keep sand out and contents sealed in… very useful in case something leaks during shipping.
Drop in a note of encouragement, reminding them that someone is thinking about and supporting them.

Do you know of other organizations that participate in sending letters, packages and donations to the troops?

Top 10 Holiday Air Travel Tips

@Fly_com Check out these top 10 air travel tips to help you stay sane, save big money, and enjoy your holiday travel this year.

Thanksgiving is known as the busiest US travel day of the year and December holidays follow close behind. Last year, 24 million Americans traveled over Thanksgiving week and 43 million Americans traveled during the December holidays.

Want to save big, stay sane, and enjoy your holiday travel this year?

Warren Chang, VP and general manager of Fly.com, the most comprehensive online airfare search engine, has compiled his top 10 holiday travel tips

holiday travel tips

Be a Conscious Consumer: If the airline puts you on a different flight and you arrive at your destination between one to two hours after your originally scheduled arrival time (one to four hours for international destinations), the airline is required to pay you an amount equal to the one-way fare to your destination that day, up to $400 maximum and $800 for international travel.

If the airline does not make alternative arrangements for you, the airline is required to compensate you double the amount of the one-way fare to your destination.

Give Yourself a Gift: Business class fares are affordable this winter! Prices are only about double that of an economy ticket, rather than 3-4 times the economy rate as they usually are. European destinations are the best targets for this tip. (For example, flights to Paris or Frankfurt are roughly $750 in economy and just $1500 in Business Class. Later, business Class seats to Paris jump up to $2200 and $3000 for Frankfurt, while economy tickets remain the same.)

Try to Travel on Holidays: If you can, travel on actual holidays for less-crowded airports, cheaper fares – instead of the day before or day after. Travelers can expect to pay half or even less to travel.

(For example, flights from NYC to Miami are $450+ leaving the day before Thanksgiving and returning on Sunday or Monday. Traveling on Thanksgiving and returning on Tuesday will only cost you $199). If you’re not up for traveling on holidays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are the cheapest days of the week to travel.

Non-stop Means Non-hassle: Winter weather and crowded airports make for potential disasters when it comes to catching connecting flights. Avoid the stress and hassle by springing for the nonstop flights. Or, at least avoid layovers in cities known for inclement weather (Denver, Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis). If you must take a flight with a stop, opt for warmer climates like Dallas, Miami or Los Angeles.

Wrap the Right Way…Later: Don’t bring wrapped presents to the airport. TSA agents might end up opening your gifts, instead of your intended loved ones. Save time and money by wrapping gifts once you arrive at your final destination.

Involve the In-laws: Pack less and do laundry at the homes of family members. Less carry-on luggage can save travelers up to $50 in baggage fees while also avoiding the hassle of hauling around extra luggage. (When searching on Fly.com the results show baggage fees!).

Prepare Your Precious Carry-Ons: If you’re traveling with oversized items such as skis, snowboards, or golf clubs, make sure to check airline requirements and fees ahead of time to avoid surprise expenses.

Check Nearby Airports: Often larger airports due to heavy flow of passengers/aircraft have the most delays and fewest seats available. Search for airfare in smaller nearby airports to get the best deals. From Chicago fly into Washington National or Baltimore to save at least $30 on the cost flights when compared to Dulles.

Get to Grandma’s Early: There are often less delays on early morning flights as they are usually the first scheduled flights of the day. The plane is often waiting for several hours and ready to go!

Use Social Media to Save: Sites such as Fly.com often offer real-time Twitter fare (@Fly_com) and Facebook alerts (www.facebook.com/fly) for flights around the world.

And of course always remember, tis the season. Be polite to airline employees, especially when things go wrong. Niceness can go a long way when you experience problems.

Source: Fly.com

Best Time of Year to Shop For These Items

I was just reading the Consumer Reports magazine and saw the interesting chart they have in it for the best time to buy items throughout the year. I thought I would pass it along to you.

Remember, as they say, the “best time to save money isn’t generally when you will find the best selection”. I also think that you have to shop out of the box-style and buy when the items are cheapest, not necessarily when you need them. Like buying a winter coat when Winter is over or buying a lawnmower when Summer is past. However, sometimes it is best to shop at the height of the season because of the sales be offered by the stores.

It’s like buying groceries to save lots of money. My friend Treasures says, “buy what you need when you don’t need it” meaning, buy the groceries when they are on sale and when you have a coupon, not when you are out of that item and desperately need it. Of course, if you need it then buy it but if you can plan your shopping trip then wait until the items are on sale, just like this list suggests.

January: bedding, carpeting, computers, cookware, linens, swimwear, toys, treadmills, winter clothing

February: humidifiers, indoor furniture, treadmills and exercise equipment

March: digital cameras, humidifiers, all kinds of electronics, Winter coats and sporting gear

April: computers, digital cameras, lawn mowers

May: athletic clothing and shoes, carpeting, cordless phones, lawn mowers, small electronics

June: camcorders, carpeting, computers, indoor furniture, swimwear

July: camcorders, indoor and outdoor furniture, swimwear

August: air conditioners, backpacks, dehumidifiers, lawn mowers, outdoor furniture, snow blowers

September: bikes, digital cameras, gas grills, lawn mowers, shrubs, trees, and perennials, small electronics, snow blowers

October: bikes, computers, digital cameras, gas grills, lawn mowers, and winter coats

November: baby products, bikes, camcorders, gas grills, toys, TVs

December: bikes, camcorders, gas grills, home appliances, toys, TVs

I am sure there are more things you could think of to add to this shopping list. What is the best time of year to buy? When there is a sale I say.

“Give Thanks” Thanksgiving Kids Centerpiece Craft Project

Thanksgiving is a time we give thanks for all that we have. We give thanks for the food we eat, the house we live in, our dog, our cat, Mom & Dad, grandma and grandpa, school, teachers, toys, and the list goes on and on. Help kids focus on what they are thankful for by letting them make a “Give Thanks” Thanksgiving Turkey Centerpiece. All you need is some simple supplies to make this kids Thanksgiving craft.

These instructions are for one centerpiece.

Suggested Age: 3 and older

Supplies Needed:

9″ x 12″ Assorted Color Construction Paper (yellow, orange, red, brown)
Wiggly Eyes
Brown 1″ Pom-Pom
Black Marker
Cheap white 9″ paper plate
Kids Scissors
Tacky Glue

Preparation Work:

Using the template provided below and colored construction paper, trace and cut out 6 to 9 tail feathers.
Cut one paper plate in half.
Using the paper plate half as a guide, place the plate on the brown construction paper and trace a half-circle and cut out about 1/4″ wider. This will be used to cover the plate so you want it to be slightly larger than the plate.
Cut a 3″ x 12″ strip from a piece of brown construction paper.
Using the beak template, cut out one yellow construction paper beak shape and fold on the fold-line shown.
Using the teardrop template, cut out one red construction paper teardrop shape.

Click here (or on the image below) to print out the templates needed for this project.

To make it easier to use the tacky glue, try pouring a small amount into paper bowl or on a paper plate. Then provide paintbrushes to make spreading the glue much easier. Keep a paper cup filled with water nearby so the paintbrush can be dipped in it occasionally to keep the glue from getting too tacky and thick.

Turkey Centerpiece Instructions:

Step 1: Glue 6 to 9 paper tail feathers onto the curved edge of the paper plate half.

Step 2: To make the turkey’s body, use brown construction paper to cut out a half-circle and glue it to the front of the paper plate.

Step 3: Use the 3″ brown strip of construction paper to form a cylinder, securing the end with craft tape. Glue or tape the cylinder to the front of the plate on the brown paper half circle.

Step 4: Turn the plate over and use the marker or crayon write one thing you are thankful for on each tail feather, as shown in the photo.

Step 5: To make their turkey’s face, glue wiggly eyes and red construction paper teardrop shape and yellow beak to pom-pom. Then glue the pom-pom to the cylinder.

These instructions and image were modified from the Lakeshore project

Free Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids

Tiny Prints has some great free Valentine’s Day Coloring Pages for your kids to enjoy. Print them out Today!

Tiny Prints created Valentine’s Day coloring pages that feature adorable characters and cute Valentine’s Day sayings. There are sweet messages, fun animals, delicious desserts and more! Whether your child loves kittens or race cars, there’s sure to be a Valentines coloring page here that they’ll adore.