Valentine's Day Care Package

The winter months are full of "gift giving" holidays for us. December means Christmas and my birthday; January is our anniversary. And February...

Valentine's Day! Now, I know the boys could probably care less about this so-called holiday, but let's face it. It's a really good excuse to send lots of candies, treats, and even cheesy cards to my sweetheart. He might catch a lot of flack for this very girly...and very PINK box. BUT! It's Valentine's Day. And I purposely made things to be shared, so who will really get the last laugh?

Once again, I found some great paper at none other than, Hobby Lobby. There is no mistaking what this care package says.

My favorite picture of us. From back when we first started dating.

My Valentine Care Package includes:

--Little Debbie's Be My Valentine Heart-shaped Cakes

--Vanilla Creme Peeps

--Hershey's Hugs and Kisses in a Valentine's Day tin

--10 bags of assorted candies (to share with his buddies)

         --Valentine's Day candy corn

           --Cherry Jelly Hearts

           --Conversation Hearts

           --Hershey's Hugs and Kisses

--Cheesy Man-approved Valentines

--Junior Mints with a wrapped Valentine

--Homemade Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

--Strawberry Cheesecake Muddy Buddies (Chex Mix)

And, as always, a flash drive full of movies, music, pictures, and TV episodes.

                                 

Next month is March and I will have two occasions, both that occur on the same day, so it may call for two themed care packages. Stay tuned!

Anniversary Care Package

It has taken me longer than I had hoped, but I finally made another care package. Scott's Christmas care packages made it to him! But they were late. It took a MONTH for them to get there. No bueno.

We've made it through the biggest holidays of the year, but from Thanksgiving on, I have at least one big event or holiday of some sort to base the care package theme off of.

So what's in January, you ask? None other than our anniversary! This year we're celebrating our second wedding anniversary. Traditionally, the second anniversary gift is "cotton", but that's not much of a theme for a box, so I just went with blue. My favorite color is awesomely blue, or teal-ish, Scott's is navy. So I figured, why not?

In case you hadn't noticed, I'm kind of big on song lyrics. So this time around, I picked some pretty significant ones. 

Our favorite band is called The Spill Canvas. Our history with them goes way back to high school. Scott fell in love with me to the sounds of The Spill Canvas. So it's only fitting, that their lyrics played a huge role in me figuring out that I was going to marry Scott. 

Call it cheesy, but I had been really praying and trying to figure out if I was going to marry Scott. This wasn't too long after we had started dating, mind you, so I wasn't all that sure, but I kind of already knew. 

But one night, I woke up in the middle of the night. And all I could think of were these lyrics. They were blaring across my mind and I couldn't shake them. 

"While you were sleeping, I figured out everything...I was constructed for you, you were molded for me. Now I feel your name, coursing through my veins. You shine so bright it's insane, you put the sun to shame."

And when was that night, you ask? January 22, 2011. Exactly a year to the day before we got married. A fact that I failed to realize until about a week before we got married. How fitting that we had unknowingly planned the wedding for that day.

So without further ado, my anniversary care package:

This one isn't quite as hard to read, especially with the up close pictures, but I'll go ahead and caption them. I couldn't fit the entire part of the lyrics, but the most essential line is there.

Happy 2nd anniversary, babydoll!

I was constructed for you

You were molded for me

Mr & Mrs since Jan. 22, 2012

This care package didn't contain much of consequence. Just some random items for Scott to snack on.

The one thing that went into the box of any real significance is a series of letters I wrote for Scott. There was no real rhyme or reason to it. It just kind of became our love story, broken down into different big moments. Such as, our first date, the day he proposed, our wedding day, etc.

So a very happy anniversary to my sweetheart! Here's to 100 more!

Thanksgiving Care Package

Sending at least one care package a month is on my Deployment bucket list. And while I didn't do so hot on making the first two very cute, I have met that goal so far. Since this one if for Thanksgiving, I took some time and actually decorated the box as well. I know Boys are boys and don't care how pretty the box is, but the real point was to send a little piece of Thanksgiving from home his way.

I wanted to send a Thanksgiving "meal" of sorts, but of course, Turkey and potatoes and pumpkin pie won't last or ship well. But I was able to find some boxed food and canned goods that are part of the stereotypical Thanksgiving day meal. I even included a couple of baked goods to top it off.

Here's what my Thanksgiving care package includes:

-- 2 Compleats microwavable meals
-- 1 cup of Mac & Cheese
-- 1 can sliced carrots
-- 1 can green beans
-- 1 can jellied cranberry sauce
-- 1 box sweet potatoes
-- 1 box turkey stuffing
-- Pumpkin muffins
-- Snickerdoodle cookies


And just a couple of non-Thanksgiving related bonus items that Scott will like.

I also like to make him a card, and I have started a "tradition" of drawing him some kind of picture on it. 

Hopefully he will at least enjoy the thought, even though I'm sure they will have a good meal prepared for them on the ship to celebrate. 

I'm thankful that even though we won't be able to spend Thanksgiving together, I can at least find a way to send a piece of "home" to him. 

For now, I will think of our first Thanksgiving together last year and look forward to spending it together next year!

Deployment Bucket List

Going into this deployment, I was no stranger to my husband being away. We have been together almost 3 years, and maybe spent about 6 months of that time together. I was all too familiar with the sadness and loneliness that can consume you if you let it. I have to say, I wasn't so good at being away from my husband the first 5 months we were married and only saw each other on weekends. Now, while I don't think I'll ever be good at it, nor do I want to, I was at least a little more prepared this time around. I decided to make a list of goals--a bucket list, if you will--to give myself something to focus on and fill my time.

This time around, I do have a full time job and a new roommate to help keep me from moping around in my pajamas all the time. But I figure the more I fill my time and keep my mind occupied, the faster time will fly by and Scott will be coming home again.

So without further ado, in no particular order, my deployment bucket list (so far):

1. Get into shape and feel good about the way I look.
2. Sew a piece for every pattern I own.
3. Use my smash books
4. Get my teeth taken care of
5. Pay down our debt
6. Repaint and sell my desk
7. Make at least 1 piece of furniture
8. Get Ruffled Blues up and running
9. Blog more
10. Try something new.
11. Get a decent tan
12. Start learning a language
13. Read at least 3 books
14. Run a 5K
15. Learn how to surf
16. Repaint my dresser and nightstand
17. Buy bedroom furniture
18. Redo and sell tv stand
19. Plan a vacation for when Scott comes home
20. Get healthier looking skin
21. Train Gatsby
22. Send at least one care package a month
23. Decorate and furnish the apartment
24. Go to the beach at least once a week
25. Study the Bible
26. Build my relationship with the Lord
27. Start learning how to play the guitar
28. Go somewhere I've never been before
29. Build up our savings account
30. Have at least one day devoted to Random Acts of Kindness
31. Journal

It may be a bit ambitious with a full time job, but I am going to have plenty to keep me busy. May as well get to work now then, eh? :)