Working Wives & Bachelorettes: Remembering Our Troops Through the Holidays

There have been some recent holidays that have made us all think a bit more about our troops overseas and how they will be there for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's...whatever holiday it is that they celebrate. Election day always brings about talk of the troops overseas, who wants to bring them home, who wants to keep the war going, etc. Then came the Marine Corps 236th birthday. I had to tell my husband happy birthday because he also counts this as HIS birthday too and gets really excited! And then there was Veterans Day. A day to reflect on all of those who serve and who have served our country.

We have some tough fighters out there who won't get to be with their loved ones during the holidays. As a way to make them feel a bit more at home, we are sending cookie care packages at our "big girl" jobs. Hopefully the whole office participates, but of course the six of us are.

You can also join in on sending a couple dozen, fresh baked (and there are ways to keep them that way through shipping) to America's hereos overseas. I would like to provide you with some baking and shipping tips and if you need an address to send your baked goods to, please add a comment and I can provide you with an address.

COOKIES & ITEMS TO AVOID
~ Certain cookies ship better than others. It is recommended that you do not mail any type of delicate cookie, such as Madeleines, as they may crumble. Cookies with custard or custard-like fillings or toppings, including cheesecake, could spoil due to extreme heat during shipping. Also, any cookie that requires refrigeration is not a good candidate.
~ Avoid any strong scented cookies as the other cookies may pick up the scent and taste.
~ The following items are PROHIBITED: Illegal substances, alcoholic beverages and pork or pork by-products.

PACKING TIPS
~ Include the recipe for your cookies so that service members with food allergies can make an informed choice.-Don't pack crisp and soft cookies together. The moisture from the soft cookies will seep into the crisp cookies, making them lose their crunch.
~ You can place the cookies in a tin or in ziplock bags to be placed in cardboard boxes. The U.S. Postal Service provides free military kits that include boxes, tape, address labels and customs forms.
~ Pack cookies in layers with wax paper. Lay a sheet of wax paper on the top layer and place a slice of white bread, not homemade, in the container to keep the cookies fresh during shipping. The bread will absorb moisture.
~Don't overstuff your container or your cookies may be damaged. Likewise, don't under pack your container. The cookies should fit snugly.

There are many items you can include with your cookies to cushion the containers from shifting during shipping.
~ New socks, boxers, towels or other soft, practical items
~ Individually wrapped hard candy, such as jawbreakers, lollipops or butterscotches.
~ Newspapers, magazines or comic books

Please remember that even if you don't believe in what is going on overseas, there are men and women there fighting for your right to have that belief. If it were not for them, who knows what our country would be like today. Do not take the little things for granted, such as cookies during the holidays, and remember to think of those who won't be with their loved ones for the holidays.