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Spouse Careers That Don’t Require Childcare

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One of the positive things that came out of the COVID-19 Pandemic shutdown is the flexibility of working from home for many jobs. Many companies realized that positions could be maintained with work at home, freeing up their own workspace for other jobs. Some of these remote jobs are perfect for parents, especially military spouses. Childcare is a barrier for military spouses to find employment, especially considering that the active-duty military schedule is not always reliable.

Customer Service Representative

Many companies have these roles that can be completed at home and at varying hours. Administrative tasks or email responses can be made at any hour. These positions require an ability to have a quiet home office to answer phone calls and use and be familiar with software technology. Companies like Amazon, Target, and Disney often post positions. These entry-level jobs can be done remotely as long as there is an internet connection, a working computer, and a working phone.

Proofreader

For those who love reading, are strict grammar rule followers, and want to get paid for it – proofreading may be the perfect job. It can be done anywhere where an internet connection can reach. There is no re-writing involved, purely reading to ensure no errors, unlike a copy editor. Proofreaders sometimes have a bachelor’s degree in English, but if the proofreading being done is for a certain subject, a different degree or experience may be more useful. Before employment, a proofreading competency test is typically performed. Check out FlexJobs, Indeed, and LinkedIn for positions.

Website Designer

Those with knowledge in Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, and, or HTML can build a website quickly and effectively. Get certificates to build and develop webpages through the local community college to network and improve your skills. Google offers courses for free. The amount of time to build each page depends on the skill level, so practice and time will decrease the time needed. Upwork and LinkedIn are great places to look for work.

Freelance Writer

A freelance writer is responsible for brainstorming topics, researching, writing compelling content, editing, and pitching the articles to varying online and print magazines. Each online or print media has a different style and voice, so the writer has to be able to write to that brand’s style. These positions do not always offer a great amount of money, but by writing with more companies, more can be earned. Writing can be done at any hour. Network your friends to find writing opportunities and check on websites like LinkedIn, SmartBlogger, FlexJobs, and Upwork.  

Transcriptionist

Transcribe recorded dictations as a transcriptionist. Fast typing, concentration skills, and good hearing are required.  Those individuals with medical knowledge have a leg up on working as medical transcriptionists.  This does require the ability to listen to the transcription and type quickly and accurately. Thanks to headphones, this job can be done early in the morning, late at night, and during nap times with young children at home. Check out UpWork and LinkedIn for positions.

Virtual Assistant

This position comes in all shapes and sizes – part-time, full-time, and everything in between. A virtual assistant manages the calendar and day-to-day for their client, manages social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok as well as reviewing email, maintaining records, and whatever the client requires. If the client is a blogger or writer, the job could include reviewing the website and editing pieces. The job can be done remotely and may allow for flexible hours as long as you have a high-speed internet connection. Check out LinkedIn and among military spouse groups, as there are several military spouses who run virtual assistant companies. Other companies that hire virtual assistants are VaVa Virtual Assistants, Profit Factory, and Boldly.

Online Teacher/Tutor

The burden of having to update teacher licensing for each state the military spouse moves to is time consuming. The teaching position does not continue remotely around the world. Online teaching and tutoring can be done remotely, from around the world. Tutor.com is a great spot to start. Teaching English to students worldwide with programs like VIPKID means teaching during the evening and early hours, but this also means no burden of childcare.

Health Coach

If health is your passion and fitness is a priority, being a health coach may be the right position. Provide workout classes in your neighborhood or area for a nominal fee, and smaller children can be involved or play at the nearby playground. Providing meal plans for a nominal fee allows for maintained health and nutrition at home, but also providing them to others and earning money as well.

Small Business Owner

This can be made to suit each person. Maybe you like to crochet or design stickers using your Cricut? Opening your own business and selling your product may be the right thing for you. It allows for the ultimate flexible job option as you are your own boss. Working at something you enjoy may not feel like work. It provides enjoyment and continued work. Once you have your shop up and running, consider adding it to the Spouse-ly Marketplace – a unique marketplace for goods and services for military and veteran-owned businesses.

These careers allow flexibility and mobility for military spouses, who provide consistency and support for their family while the military member is at work. The flexible and remote work market is increasing, with new job types and titles developing every day.

Do you have a remote job to share?

Winter Blues are Real …and Tips To Fend Them Off

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The shorter days, longer dark hours, and colder temperatures lead to “winter blues.” Per the American Academy of Family Practice, about 10-20% percent of people may have mild winter blues, about 10 million people by the numbers.

The winter blues by definition, is the feeling of depression or deep unhappiness associated with the season of winter. The National Institute for Health calls this more of a feeling than a diagnosis.

Tips

  1. Get More Light: Sit by a window throughout the day, so you are exposed to more daylight. If you are able, get out and walk as much as possible. If you have a long commute to work, consider taking a 20-minute walk during your lunch break to get some sunshine. This is especially important if you work in a building without windows. Light therapy is a treatment modality for more severe cases of winter blues called Seasonal Affective Disorder. The light is meant to replace the missed daytime hours experienced in the summer and fall days. While getting outside in the natural light will not replace all the missed sunlight hours, it will provide much-missed sunlight. Don’t forget your sunscreen when taking in your vitamin D.
  2. Eat Healthy: While your body will crave carbohydrates when having symptoms of the winter blues, eating healthy and balanced meals, including fruit, vegetables, and fish, can help combat those sad feelings. Meal plan with healthy meals to avoid snacking on sugary treats that are abundant at the holidays. Eating sugary carbohydrates can lead to sugar spikes and drops, which can increase feelings of sadness. This doesn’t mean you cannot indulge at all, with everything in moderation.
  3. Be active: Keeping up a regular activity schedule will help boost your energy and your mood through the mood-enhancing chemical of serotonin. The CDC recommends 30 minutes of exercise daily, for a total of 150 minutes a week. While this can feel like an overwhelming task with long work hours, a commute, and perhaps even parenting and the taxi cab life for activities. If breaking up the exercise into 15-minute increments in the morning and in the evening is more manageable, do it. Perhaps get in 15-20 minutes of cardio in the morning and 15-20 minutes of yoga in the evening to prepare for rest and relaxation before bed.
  4. Get Outside: Changing your surroundings can change your mood. Bonus that getting outside during the day exposes you to more light and provides an opportunity for exercise.
  5. Get Plenty of Sleep: Your circadian rhythm changes with the change in sunlight, but this doesn’t always equate to more sleep during the darker hours. Getting an appropriate amount of sleep improves mood lability and can combat the winter blues.

If your winter blues continue despite utilizing healthy eating, routine exercise, and getting plenty of sunshine, and the sadness begins to interfere with your activities of daily living; this may be Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Seasonal affective disorder is a medical diagnosis and may require medical interventions like medication. Someone experiencing SAD does not necessarily require daily medication but beginning medication and/or therapy can help manage symptoms. Contact your primary care provider, or reach out to a mental health professional if your winter blues are affecting your daily life.

Make the Most of MWR

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Morale, Welfare, and Recreation – it is what MWR stands for. But what does it mean? Just that – programming to boost morale and welfare and provide recreation programming. MWR is just that for the Army, Air Force, and Navy.  The Marine Corps has Marine Corps Community Services in lieu of MWR. These programs are on military bases to provide and deliver high-quality recreation.

Parks and Recreation

PARC or Outdoor Recreation, depending on the military branch and base, offers a variety of camping and outdoor equipment for rental prices. The offerings range from stand-up paddleboards to 6-person tents. Check out the equipment you may want to purchase one day at an affordable rate.

Tickets

Want to check out the local aquarium or a museum? Check out the MWR or Information Ticket and Travel for tickets. Local businesses provide tickets to military bases at discounted prices so that many more military families can appreciate and enjoy that experience.   Larger companies like Disney and Universal Studios also offer Salute and Military Freedom passes, respectively, at dramatically lower prices for a longer period of time. Take advantage of it! Going on an adventure with friends or as a family builds resilience in that devoted time together.

Travel

Want to travel more with a little less stress? MWR plans and offers tours for one cost, usually with transportation included for ease. Especially in overseas regions, MWR offices offer programming to see the area and beyond. In Okinawa, trips to mainland Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong are offered, to name a few.  While living in Europe, travel from country to country without having to plan the route or tour. These tours include planned activities, meals, and transportation for one price and with less stress on you.

Movies

Do you check out the movie theater on your local military base? You should! The theaters receive current movies within two to three weeks of their release and sometimes even have early premieres. In 2022, Top Gun: Maverick and Devotion showed for free prior to the release dates to military families. Compare ticket prices, and you will likely find that the prices are much more affordable on post than off, and the food options are affordable and fun.

Lodging

MWR operates some recreational lodging, which provides an adorable getaway for military families. The options vary from military campgrounds to cottages on the beach to fancy hotels. All around the world, MWR operates lodging just for military and veterans and their families at affordable rates and amazing locations. Beyond the adorable lodging, there are other perks for checking out military lodging.

Fitness

Staying physically active and in shape are vital to military work and a healthy lifestyle. MWR Fitness centers have up-to-date equipment and are staffed with fitness experts to assist with creating the fitness program best for you. Aquatic, nutrition and intramural sports programs provide additional fitness programming. While the size of the gym and the numbers of them vary per base, check out your local fitness programs to see what is offered.

Make utilizing the MWR a priority this year, and it will be worth it.

5 Soup Recipes to Try This Cold Season

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Wintertime is the perfect time for making soups. Both the colder temperature outside, but also the increase in cold and flu season makes soup the perfect food to provide comfort. The hot broth helps soothe any irritation of the throat and nasal passages caused by colder temperatures but also provides comfort if there is any sneezing or runny nose. Add these five soups to your meal rotation this winter.

Chicken Noodle Soup

This classic soup can be made with just a few ingredients and is hearty and delicious. It is naturally dairy-free and can be easily modified to vegan by not adding chicken and opting for egg-free noodles.

Ingredients:

  • 1 TBL butter
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 stalks of celery, diced
  • 3 whole carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 1 TSP dried sage
  • 1 TSP dried rosemary
  • 4 cups of Broth – bone or regular, chicken or veggie
  • Chopped Cooked Chicken
  • Egg Noodles

Sauté the onion and celery in the butter in the pan until softened. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic. Add the chopped carrots, herbs and broth and bring to a boil. Salt and pepper to taste. Once the carrots have softened, add in the chopped chicken and heat until warm. Once thoroughly warmed through, add in half a bag of egg noodles and cook for 10 minutes until the noodles are softened. Add water if needed. Once heated through, your soup is ready to eat!

If you don’t have broth on hand, make ready-made broth with bullion cubes.

Sweet Potato-Black Bean Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 TBL Olive Oil
  • 1 large Onion, chopped
  • 1 TBL fresh Ginger, chopped
  • 2  large Sweet Potatoes, cubed
  • Garlic
  • Black Beans, 10 oz
  • 3 cups of Veggie or Chicken Stock
  • Lime
  • 1 TSP Cumin
  • Salt – to taste
  • 2 TSP Paprika
  • 14 oz Diced Tomatoes (Any type, or a handful of fresh)
  • 15 oz Black Beans (dried and soaked or canned)

Heat oil in a dutch oven and add chopped onions, stirring until caramelized. Add in the garlic and ginger and cook until aromatic. Add in the paprika and cumin, stirring frequently for a minute. Then add in 2 cups of stock, the black beans, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes, and stir. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low to simmer until the sweet potatoes are soft. Check on the potatoes and add in stock as needed. The soup is ready when the sweet potatoes are soft. Add salt and pepper to taste. Once you have served the soup into individual bowls, squeeze a lime slice over to add zest to the soup.

Remember, if using dried black beans, soak them overnight prior to using them in the soup, or they will soak up all your liquid and not be cooked in time to eat.

3 Ingredient Cauliflower Soup

This one will surprise you. Kathleen Ashmore shared it on her blog, and it intrigued me. It is creamier than one would expect in a dairy-free soup and might get the cauliflower adverse to try it.

Ingredients:

  • 3 TBSP olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 head of cauliflower (about 1 ½ pounds), chopped
  • Kosher Salt
  • 5 ½ cups of water or low-sodium veggie stock
  • Fresh Cracked black pepper

Heat the olive oil and add the sliced onion, stirring frequently to avoid browning. Add the cauliflower, one teaspoon salt, and ½ cup of vegetable stock and heat on medium for about 15 minutes. Add the remaining stock or water and simmer for 20 minutes.

Puree the soup in a blender, or utilize a blender stick. Cook the creamy substance for another 20 minutes to thicken.

The originator of the recipe recommends serving with olive oil drizzles on top, cracked black pepper and garnished with roasted almonds.

French Onion Soup

If you haven’t tried making this soup at home before, it can take some work, but it is delicious. While onion may not be your favorite vegetable before this soup, it might just change after.

Ingredients

  • 5 TBL olive oil
  •  1 TBL butter
  •  8 cups of thinly sliced onions
  • 2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 32 ounces beef broth
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 24 slices of French bread (thickly cut)

¾ cup shredded Gruyere cheese

Heat oil and butter in a dutch oven and stir in onions, cooking until soft reduce heat to medium until onions are golden brown.  Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in the wine, and bring it to a boil. Once the liquid is reduced by half, add in the salt, pepper, and broth and return to boil. Once returned to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and stir occasionally for about one hour.

While the soup is preparing, toast French bread slices.

Once the soup is ready, add soup to an oven-safe bowl, then top with French bread and some cheese and place in broiler until cheese is brown and melted.

Talk about a heavenly vegetable.

Spicy Lentil and Veggie Soup

This one requires some morning prep work for dinner but is an easy soup that doesn’t require monitoring all day.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of green beans, halved
  • 2 cups of cauliflower, chopped
  • 1 cup of dried lentil
  • 1 cup of baby carrots, halved
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 can of diced tomatoes with pepper

Combine the ingredients, minus the tomatoes, and cook covered on low until the lentils and vegetables are tender about 6- 8 hours. Once the veggies are tender, pull out the bay leaves, and add the diced tomatoes and salt to the pepper to taste. Viola – dinner is served.

There are many more soups that could be added to this list, but these are some favorites using ingredients that are readily available in the winter months. What are your favorite soup recipes?

Congress To Change COVID Vaccine Mandate for Military

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The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) outlines financial budget and adds regulations for the Department of Defense. This year’s NDAA includes a repeal of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the military. The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House on December 8, 2022, and the Senate on December 15, 2022, and was signed by President Biden on December 23, 2022, just before the federal holiday. There was some speculation that President Biden would not sign the NDAA due to the inclusion of the specific COVID-19 vaccine legislation.

The COVID-19 vaccine mandate became policy in August of 2021, following the development of the vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that time, there has been debate about the inclusion of this vaccine into mandatory vaccines. Military members are required to have vaccines, including the recommended vaccinations for adults, including but not limited to polio, chickenpox, pneumonia, influenza, and meningitis. They are also required to have Anthrax and Small Pox vaccinations due to the nature of their jobs. In fact, at boot camp, recruits are vaccinated for measles, mumps, diphtheria, rubella, and smallpox, depending on the service branch.

With the signing of the FY 2023 NDAA, the COVID-19 vaccine mandate must be repealed. Representative Adam Smith, a chairman on the Armed Services Committee, stated that while he did agree with the mandate for the vaccine in August of 2021, he wasn’t sure if it was still necessary. “But as we are here now, in December 2022, does that August 2021 policy still make sense? Is it still the right policy?” The COVID-19 vaccine has had few adjustments to include new variants after the Omicron variant, which Mr. Smith noted.

Thousands of military troops were discharged when they declined the COVID-19 vaccine. The NDAA does not provide a mechanism for those discharged troops to return to active service. Not that all of those discharged service members want to return to service. For those that are in the appeals process for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, it is unclear what their fate will be. If an adverse determination is already in their file, they could still be discharged for different reasons.

Time will tell how this decision rollback will affect current military members and when the change will take effect for new recruits joining the military. Per the CDC data tracker, about 68% of the American adult population has been fully vaccinated per the age schedule. About one-third of American adults have had at least one vaccination.

Military 2023 Pay Raise Coming

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The largest pay raise in two decades is coming for military members in 2023. The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House on December 8.2022, the Senate on December 15, 2022, and was signed by President Biden on December 23, 2022, just before the federal holiday. Within the NDAA, a pay raise is listed for active-duty troops, drilling Guard, reserve members, and civilian members within the Defense Department.

The NDAA included a 4.6 % raise for the 2023 fiscal year. For comparison, in the 2022 NDAA, a 2.7% pay raise was included. This could mean an increase of about $1,000 over the year for junior enlisted military members.

An increase in Basic Allowance for Subsistence rates was also included. The increase of 11% is provided to those military members who live outside of the barracks. The monthly BAS payment in 2023 will be $311.68 for officers and $452.56 for enlisted members.

The military pay increase does not match the current inflation rate. The inflation rate as of October 2022 was 7.7%. While a pay raise is typically included with the idea that it will offset inflation, it does not specifically address inflation. While this pay increase may be the largest in years, it will be covering basic necessities that have increased in cost with the highest inflation rate in years.

The pay changes will be reflected in the January 15th check as that check covers the time period of January 1 to January 15.

Ten Exercises That Don’t Require Equipment

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One of the top five New Years’ Resolutions every year is to lose weight. While I would recommend changing this to “Get Healthy” versus losing weight, it is understandable why this is on the list after a period of increase in heavy foods during the holiday season and colder temperatures leading to fewer outdoor activities. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on an exercise program or equipment; you can do exercises with your body weight on your time.

Yoga

Any carpeted place can be a place for yoga. Check YouTube for free yoga sessions and begin. It really is that simple. Sit cross-legged with your back straight and take deep breaths. Taking a moment of calm prior to any activity is important for mindfulness. Yoga isn’t just an exercise but also promotes mindfulness for stress management and encourages the maintenance and development of flexibility and strength.

Planks

This exercise can be escalated over time to ensure a continued challenge. Start with planks on knees initially and graduate to up on hands or down on elbows once up on toes. Add rocking up and down/side to side for more engagement of the core and shoulders.

Squats

Start with Sumo or regular squats. Over time, increase the depth and frequency of the squats. Add squat jumps once more attuned to squats. When jumping, make sure to land softly, slightly bending the knees to avoid jarring the knees.

Mountain Climbers

Add variety to the plank but lift one leg at a time to the chest. Start off slow, but increase over time the repetitions or time period doing this. It is a good cardio exercise if you maintain this for a period of time.

Shoulder Taps

Another addition to planks, stay in plank position and, while maintaining core strength, tap the opposite shoulder with the hand. Work on not rocking while doing this to increase core strength in addition to shoulder stability

Lunges

Not everyone’s favorite, but it can be mixed up in various ways. Take one step back to get both knees at 90 degrees. Then step together and take one step back with the other leg. If this is a new exercise, start slow but increase speed over time. Start with doing 10-20 on each leg and increase the number completed, or do it for 30-60 seconds at a time. Eventually, it won’t be as hard, and you will be looking for new ways to increase the difficulty.

Curtsy Lunge

Add an extra challenge to the lunge with the curtsy lunge. Instead of lunging with the leg straight back, the leg stepping back steps at a diagonal, and both knees lower into a “curtsy”. Add a hop at the top of the lunge for an extra challenge.

Bear Planks

 Maintaining a plank, but with the legs bent upward – not quite at a mountain climber, but in a “bear” position. Maintain this for 30 seconds, eventually for 60 seconds and longer. You can also hop back and forth from straight plank to bear plank to add variety to planks.

Burpee

It’s a whole-body workout. Begin standing shoulder-width apart, squat, then move to the plank by kicking your feet behind you. Do a push-up, and once completed, jump your legs up to a squat position to jump straight up with arms overhead. Do as many of these as possible in one minute and rest for 20-30 seconds. It will get your heart rate up as well as engage your core.

Burpee with Mountain climber

Needing more of a challenge? Add a mountain climber when in plank position during the burpee.

Stay budget-friendly without adding expenses after the holidays. Bonus that you are not adding literal weight to your moving load with these exercises to keep you healthy.

New Year Countdown for the Moving Military Member

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It’s the Final Countdown!

A New Year for a military member looks a little bit different, especially on a PCS year. The traditional New Year’s Resolutions of a renewed exercise routine or drinking less caffeine may still be on the list, but there are other priorities for the moving military member. This is the list for those individuals.

It’s a new year; it’s a time to start preparing for the summer move cycle. Get your home ready, pack things, and move to the next destination. Where to start? Start in January; start early. It will lessen the stress during the moving season. It won’t abolish it, but it maybe more manageable.

January is for Beginning Decluttering

This can be done in a fashion that makes it easy to manage. The idea is to declutter and purge to start fresh with the next move.

Declutter by item type: books, clothes, kitchen tools, towels, kids’ games, clothing, etc.

Declutter by room – this one is easier to break down and manage because it compartmentalizes things.

Designate how you will declutter each type of room. Will it be on Thursdays or Sundays, or a week at a time? Starting early makes the task less daunting.

February is for Beginning Pantry and Freezer Clean Out

Beginning in January, analyze what is in the pantry. If there are any items that are hiding in the back or have fallen behind the pasta containers, now is the time to pull them out. Determine what is on hand, so it can be used in a timely fashion. This prevents food waste, and maximally utilizes your budget. Before you begin the moving-out meal roulette, use food items in the way you desire. The same goes for the freezer. Small things fall out and hide behind shelves. Find them before they spoil, leak, make a mess or have to be tossed out.

March is for Information Gathering

March is usually a time one can expect to have orders and be able to do the information gathering for the new duty station. About the job, find housing or secure a room, determine school ratings, and find doctors/dentists. While it is fun to plan and research the possibilities, once hard orders are in hand, March is the time for concrete searching.

April is for Moving Cleaning, not just Spring Cleaning

The deep cleaning that occurs with moving is a lot of work. While hiring a cleaner can be helpful, it can be an added expense during a costly moving period. Begin doing deep cleaning in January. Clean the fridge and freezer. Turn the oven on to cleaning mode. Steam clean carpets. Scrub the baseboards of the floors, the most forgotten areas. Make a list of what needs to be done and do it one step at a time.

May is for Packing

While the government can provide a moving company for you, you have the option for a Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly DITY), or you can pre-pack boxes to assist with the organizing of your items. Pack sentimental items, ensure family china or jewelry is packed securely, and pull out any items that you wish.

June is the Big Push

With a summer move on the horizon, June is for all the last-minute things. One more decluttering round for the house. A once-over clean goes much faster because you have done the deep cleaning. The cupboards should be bare now that you have slowly been working on them.

Reusing Holiday Leftovers for Meals

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Making a holiday meal can be an all-day ordeal. Many only make a turkey or ham just a few times a year – and the hours-long labor is over after the 60-minute meal. Repurposing the leftovers beyond the second plate expands the hard work. Here are 8 ways to repurpose those holiday leftovers into yummy meals everyone will love.

Tacos

This is an easy one – utilize the protein of choice – turkey or ham – and add taco seasoning. Viola – add the meat with veggies and cheese into a hard or soft taco shell, and you have a meal that is very different than the holiday meal before.

Enchiladas

Another twist on the holiday meal. Use the holiday protein in your favorite enchilada recipe. Cover with sauce and bake for a warm, comforting meal from the holiday meal.

Nachos

An easy lunch and great for finger food while hanging out together watching a movie or decorating the house, nachos are a fun way to repurpose the meal. It can be made with any protein – from poultry to pork to beef – with your favorite taco seasoning for the meat and topped with veggies and cheese. We have even cut up green beans and sauteed them with the turkey for an extra crunch and bright green color.

Quiche

Make a pie crust and mix eggs with any protein and veggies for a filling quiche. Stuffing makes a great thickener to the custard as well. It can be used for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner and can be served cold or warm.

To three eggs, mix one cup of milk, salt, and pepper ad mix. Add in ¼ cup of chopped protein (turkey, ham, beef), ¼ cup of veggies, ¼ cup stuffing, and 1/3-1/4 cup of shredded cheese on hand. Add in any spices desired and bake in an oven at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Soup

Soup is a great way to stretch the leftovers. Use ham bone or turkey bones to make the stock. Add in any leftover veggies – from bok choy to spinach to cut-up potatoes. Add stuffing dumplings to make it a dumping soup. Boil the bones for several hours to get off any leftover meat – stretching that meal as far as possible.

Fried Rice

Fried rice is a great way to use any leftovers. Fry up cooked rice, and any meat or veggie can be added to it. Add in an egg or two to create the scrambled eff until cooked through. Add on the seasoning of soy sauce and ginger to taste and voila.

Crepes

Savory Crepes make a delicious lunch or dinner. Crepe batter is essentially a thin pancake but can be filled with anything. Make it a breakfast crepe with cranberry sauce. Make it a lunch or dinner crepe with turkey and veggies with a little cranberry sauce.

Stock

If you don’t need all the stock for the soup, save and freeze the stock for future soup or risotto recipes. Add flavor to rice dishes on the menu for the next month.

How do you repurpose holiday meals?

Military Families Celebrate the Holidays Around the World

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As I listen to the Christmas tunes through Amazon Music, I reflect on where we have celebrated the holidays – both my active-duty spouse and as a military family around the world. My spouse has been on deployment during the holidays. As a family, we celebrated the holidays in Okinawa, Japan, wearing a t-shirt and flip-flops at the beach on a Christmas afternoon. We are not alone. Many military families have celebrated the holidays outside of their hometowns, instead celebrating where the military sends us. These unique experiences present opportunities to learn about the various areas we live in and perhaps continue the tradition with the next PCS. From OCONUS to CONUS, military families share their unique experiences of the holidays spent around the world.

Germany

For those lucky enough to call Germany home, the holidays are a magical time. Christkindlmarkt, or the Christmas Markets, in Germany are an outdoor shopping market for goods and foodstuffs. Glühwein and gingerbread are purchased and enjoyed. These traditions don’t end when leaving Germany. While markets like those in Germany are not as prominent, they do occur in some scattered towns around the United States, including Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Some big box stores carry German beer or glühwein, and while it may not be an exact replica for those treats enjoyed at the Christmas Markets,

The custom of celebrating St. Niklaus Day may have begun for those who lived in Germany but continues even after leaving. It’s a fun way to continue and honor those traditions learned overseas. St. Niklaus Day is celebrated on the eve of December 5th, and children, and adults alike, place their shoes outside or at their door for St. Niklaus to leave treats in the shoes, per the Legend of St. Niklaus.

Around the US

No matter where the military sends families, there are some traditions that can be continued no matter what. Several families shared that they continue the magic of the Elf on the Shelf, which find them in places everywhere from Japan to Washington DC. The traditions of reading specific books or pajamas and cocoa on Christmas Eve can occur no matter where home is, although the pajamas maybe shorts and tank tops versus flannel, depending on the weather.

Italy

Italy celebrates the holidays with sweet treats and festivals, and light displays. Le Befana, the Christmas Witch per Italian stories, brings children gifts on January 5th.  The sweetened breads of panettone and pandoro are enjoyed throughout the holiday enjoyed, with and without the amazing Italian coffee. Thanks to global shipping, even after leaving Italy, military families are able to find these breads in the United States to reminisce on their time in Italy.

Japan

Mainland and Okinawa, Japan, go all out for the holidays. Scattered throughout the islands, hotels offer light-up shows on the hotel grounds. Some are set to music, and some are themed displays, but they all bring on the holiday joy of sparkling holiday lights. To celebrate the local way, you wouldn’t believe what food you need to find. The traditional holiday meal in December is Kentucky Fried Chicken! Yes, you read that correctly. The American chicken chain is very popular. Orders are taken early, and at pick-up time in Japanese efficiency; a table is set up outside for ease of pick-up. In the past, a holiday gift has been included with meals, including a bento box or holiday mug. The beautiful thing about this is that KFC can be enjoyed in the states after leaving Japan, but be warned, it doesn’t taste exactly the same.

Another Japanese treat is Japanese Christmas cake. The Christmas cake is a light, slightly sweetened cake topped with fruit that is delicious to taste and beautiful to look at.

In preparation for the New Year, giant decorations of Kagami mochi are seen in storefronts and along the streets. Added mochi varieties in highly decorated containers are available in grocery stores. To find similar mochi in the states, find your local Asian food market.

Great Britain

The holidays in Great Britain are celebrated with lights and trees and local treats. Mince pies, shortbread, and clotted cream are holiday favorites.  While recreating a snowy walk through the English countryside may not be replicated everywhere in the states, the treats may be available through a local British tea shop or the International aisle of the military Commissary.

While military families have celebrated the holidays around the world, these traditions that are experienced can continue no matter where the military sends us.