Category "Military/Veterans"

Bombas Socks | 1 Purchased = 1 Donated

For Christmas, my grandparents would give my brothers and me socks. They lived through the Great Depression and their gifts were very practical.

My friend, Linda, introduced me to her favorite socks–Bombas! 

bombas-socks-one-purchased-one-donated-thoughtful-gift-ideaThese aren’t your grandparents’ socks!

Ever heard of socks that support the midfoot? Me neither until now. Now my whole family wears it!

They feel wonderful on my flat feet because of their comfort, support, and softness.

My son loves Bombas because he always turned his socks inside out so he wouldn’t feel that annoying seam across his toes. Bombas found a way to get rid of it!

They also have anti-microbial and moisture-wicking properties to keep feet dry all day which makes them perfect for my husband’s feet.

The name Bombas is derived from the Latin word for bumblebee. Bees live in a hive and work together to make their world a better place. They’re small but their combined actions have a big impact on the world.

Socks are the #1 most requested clothing item at homeless shelters. This fact is the driving force behind Bombas–to support the homeless community and to bring awareness to this problem in the United States.

I work for an organization that provides housing to the homeless and every Christmas we collect socks for homeless shelters. So you can see why I would be intrigued not only in the comfort of the socks but also in a charitable company like Bombas with a mission of giving back to communities.

8,641,077 Pairs of Socks Donated

One pair purchased = One pair donated.

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Guardian Bells Good Luck Charms

I never really believed in a rabbit’s foot for good luck. Think about it… losing a foot wasn’t very good luck for the rabbit.

guardian-bell-hearts-thoughtful-gift-ideasOn the other hand, I always liked the saying, “Find a penny pick it up, for all day long you’ll have good luck.”

After reading about the legend of the tiny Guardian® Bell’s good luck charm, I wanted one for myself. Plus, it has such a sweet ring!

Legend has it that the use of bells as a channel for positive energy dates back to antiquity.

Across cultures, continents and religions, bells have been rung to banish evil spirits.

Share the Good Luck of Guardian Bells

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Announce Big News With Yard Greeting Signs

Why buy a card when you can say it in the yard?

birthday-yard-greeting-signs-giftWhen you have big news, you want to share it with the world! You could post about it on Facebook or Twitter, but that’s so predictable.

If you really want to create buzz, announce your big news with yard greeting signs.

Yard greeting sign and lawn ornament companies like OklahomaYardGreetings.com will spell out a personalized message using large letters and graphics. You can rent the signs for a day or a week, it’s up to you!

Imagine your loved one’s reaction when they pull up in front of their house or walk outside their front door. They’ll be completely surprised!

Yard greeting signs also make a great photo op. Take photos that are perfect for sharing on social media!

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Some Like It Hot, Some Like It Cold!

Looking for a gift for your husband or boyfriend that will keep things hot (or cold) all day long?

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Yeti Tumbler

Have you ever had a hot cup of coffee go cold because you were busy at work and didn’t have time to drink it? Or… your ice cold drink turned lukewarm because the ice melted?

If you haven’t heard or tried the amazing Yeti products, trust me, they would make a perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

My husband loves his 30 oz. Yeti Tumbler. It keeps his coffee hot from the time he leaves for work in the morning to throughout the day. If he happens not to drink it all, whatever is left is still warm when he gets home after 5 p.m.

We gave my brother a Yeti, and he uses it to keep his drinks cold. He drinks lots of water and loves it ice cold. The ice he puts in his Yeti Tumbler is still there even the next morning when he fills it up again.

Yeti Tumblers make wonderful gifts because they are made from stainless steel to keep drinks hot or cold and don’t sweat like plastic tumblers. My guys love ’em!

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Handwritten WWII Letter Screen Transferred on T-Shirts

My husband found a handwritten letter from his dad dated May 5, 1943 from when he served in the Army during WWII . The letter was written to his parents and sister describing his day and how he missed his wife, Betty.

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An old handwritten letter my husband’s father wrote by having parts of the letter screen printed on t-shirts.

Randy’s father had beautiful handwriting, and I thought the letter should be shared with his brother, Kyle, and sister, Lesa. But how? Copies seemed so blase’. Then the idea of having the handwritten WWII letter transferred onto t-shirts came to mind.

I found a local t-shirt screen printing business and selected different sections from the letter to create three different shirts. Each shirt also featured the postmark showing the date of the letter and their dad’s signature, Sgt. Eugene Drew. Continue Reading

Welcome Home! | Yard Decorations

When my co-worker’s husband, Mark, returned home from deployment in the Middle East, she breathed such a sigh of relief. Sandra and her son, Kyle, had been praying for his safe return every night. As an Air Force pilot, Mark encountered some intense moments.

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Say “Welcome Home!” in a visual way with yard decorations.

To express their overwhelming joy to see him home, Sandra and Kyle welcomed back Mark in patriotic style!

They surprised him by decorating their front yard with red, white and blue balloons and a custom yard sign that said, “Welcome Home Mark.”

Several of their neighbors also joined in by displaying their American flag in honor of his return.

Sometimes words aren’t enough to express how we feel. Sandra and Kyle used yard decorations to say “Welcome Home!” in a very VISUAL way that made a big impression on Mark and the entire neighborhood.

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“A Soldier’s Silent Prayer” | A Book for Veterans Day

I read my friend and author Sherry Kast’s first biography “A Soldier’s Silent Prayer” about Muscogee (Creek) Nation national treasure and honored WWII veteran Phillip W. Coon.

Soldier's-Silent-Prayer- Veterans-thoughtful-gift-ideaI found it to be a quick read and fascinating book. It’s an amazing story of Mr. Coon’s incredible journey – one that took him from a small Indian community in Oklahoma in the 1920s to the world stage as the United States declared war against Germany and Japan in December 1941. Can you imagine?

This veteran’s survival story is a tale of tragedy and triumph as he overcame insurmountable odds to survive the Bataan Death March in the Philippines and 3.5 years as a prisoner of war of the Japanese during WWII. Continue Reading

American Flag Flown Over the Nation’s Capitol

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As my husband cleaned the garage, he came across a box of items that belonged to his parents. He found the American flag that had been flown over the nation’s capitol in Washington, D.C. in honor of his father who enlisted in the Army and fought in WWII.

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A thoughtful gift for Veterans Day

My husband’s father was a proud red-blooded American through and through. He loved his country! I never heard him complain about paying taxes and he made sure to vote in elections. He felt it was extremely important because so many died for us to have that privilege.

For a thoughtful gift one year, we requested to have a flag flown on his birthday, December 2. The flag was mailed to us in time for Christmas. The flag came with a personalized certificate of recognition and authenticity to reflect the occasion. Continue Reading

Off to Boot Camp | Going Away Present

Have you ever had a lump in your throat and eyes get watery with hot tears? That’s exactly what happened to me when I read an invitation to attend a surprise party for Jonathan before he goes off to boot camp.

Jonathan's Birthday Celebration

Jonathan’s Birthday Celebration

Many years ago when our children were little, the Ridge family moved in next door. Cindy was pregnant and within days of being our new neighbors, Jonathan was born.

He was always the baby of our neighborhood block and his siblings, Jayson, Jenifer, and Justin became my children’s best friends.

“Jon,” as we call him, turned 22 years old in September, and all he has ever wanted was to be in the military. As a kid, his birthday cakes were decorated with army men, tanks and trucks. Now the time has come.

Our families have stayed close even though we have not been neighbors for years. When I read the party invitation, it was like my own child had grown up and became a man overnight. How does that happen?! Continue Reading