Military Monday!

Welcome back to Military Monday! Over the past few weeks I have featured shops with items that would be perfect for the kiddie’s Easter baskets; today I am going to feature a shop that is for those grown up baskets. Believe it or not, some folks do give an Easter basket to the biggest kids in their lives.

Today’s shop is Lilac Ave. A shop with beautiful and yummy smelling candles.

A few weeks ago my last two Yankee Candles burned out and I knew I needed to replace them. We have guests coming next week and monsoon season had left the dogs smelling very… doggish. New Yankee Candles just were not in the budget, but on top of that my son’s allergy and asthma doctors had recommended switching to soy candles. I decided to give Lilac Ave. a try. The price is so great that I figured if they bothered my son’s asthma, I wouldn’t be out that much.

Well, I opened the box and immediately decided that if they bothered him, I would just burn the candles when he isn’t home or stock up on his medications (ok, not really). So… there was this smell coming from the box. I was a little confused because I knew it wasn’t what I had ordered. It smelled like cookies and I had ordered Grapefruit and Jasmine, and Fresh Linen. Turns out, Lilac had included a sample of one of her tarts! I quickly hid it so DH wouldn’t be expecting cookies!

Going to a friend’s house for Easter lunch? Take the host/hostess a darling one-of-a-kind candle. Going to a cookout? Take along a citronella candle in a festive spring bucket.

Military Monday

Military Monday is my way of honoring great shops owned by Military supporters. With Easter approaching I thought this week I would focus on shops that have great Easter basket items. And I have personal experience with both of these great shops.

Suds n Such has the cutest soaps for kids. I wanted to try handmade soaps for my son because I had read they were better for his eczema. Angie was so sweet to answer all my questions and tell me about the ingredients she uses. I ended up buying him the popcorn soap figuring it was a good way to try it out. This soap is so cute! Not only does it come in a “tub” like real popcorn but also it smells like real popcorn! Don’t let that scare you… the smell does not transfer to your hands. You just end up smelling and feeling clean. The best part of this soap is that it is portable. We recently took a trip and I popped a few kernels in a Ziploc baggie.

My other faves from Angie’s shop are:

Puzzle soap! I know this is supposed to be for kids but I think I want some for me.

And soap to go for kids. This is on my list for when my son gets a little older.

Another great shop with kid stuff is Monster Bug Blankets

I just purchased these Easter egg crayons for my son to give his preschool classmates. They came individually wrapped and each crayon is nestled in Easter grass. They are so cute. I am more excited about these crayons than he is! And now she has flower crayons! These little flowers would be so cute for birthday party goodies.

My other faves from Monster’s shop:

Monogrammed towel set! And don’t think these are just for little kids. They would also be perfect for your college student.

Check out the tow truck t-shirt. It is so hard to find cute boy clothes on Etsy but Monster has several boy items that are just too adorable.

Military Monday

Welcome to the latest installment of Military Monday.

With Easter right around the corner, this shop is the perfect place to buy goodies for your basket! The Yarn Chick has shops on both Etsy and 1000 Markets. This works to your advantage because you have the option of using either PayPal or Amazon to pay for your goodies!

Need something for your big kid? For a boy?

And this little hat is so sweet without rotting your little angel's teeth!

And there are hats for even the biggest of kids!

Beth also has patterns in her shop for those who know how to crochet and want to make their own.

Don't want to decorate your head? Then decorate your home!

Want to just buy something beautiful for your home? Then stop by Beth’s shop filled with her drawings. This is my personal favorite!

Welcome back to Military Monday! This week’s featured shop is Stash, from Omaha, Nebraska by way of Finland and Great Britain. I have to tell you, I had a hard time narrowing the selection, once again.

I have a love of bags - all sizes, colors, and styles!

What I really love about this shop is that she makes items for men! Do you know how hard it is to find quality handmade for a manly man?

In addition to the messenger bags, the shop also had wallets, clutch bags, pencil cases and even this darn cute backpack.

If you like what you see, be sure to follow Stash on Facebook

Military Monday

Is it Monday already? It snuck up on me this week. The Military Monday shop featured this week actually made my job harder - she had too many great things and I had a hard time choosing which were my favorites! This fellow Homefront member is Kristin of Kristyns Kreations, Kristyns Kards and Jrzy Girl Photography.

In the Kristyns Kreations shop, Kristin has fantastic eye masks - perfect for a long trip or anyone who needs to sleep during the day. She even has kid-sized masks!

Need gift tags or Valentine’s Day cards? Kristin has the cutest tags and card in her Kristyns Kards shop. I might have to order some if I can’t find the set I bought last year! For you shop owners she has favor holders - a great way to give out a little gift at a craft show!

My favorite though, is the photography shop. I had a really hard time picking out just a few items to feature! Kristin’s photographs are so beautiful. I love the way she has captured the best parts of America from our flag to our monuments honoring our fallen servicemen and women. There are also some wonderful fun photos but as a military spouse, the flag photo really hits my heart!

I hope y’all enjoy browsing these shops as much as I did!

Military Monday

Welcome to the latest Military Monday! The featured shop this week is the Hungry Hippie. Check out all the cool stuff in her shop!

The kiddie travel play mats are so cute and quite handy. I may need one for our next airplane trip!

Have an aspiring chef in your family? Check out the cute little apron for kids!

Of course I had to feature an item that goes along with my favorite thing in life - coffee! Coffee cozies are all the rage these days and Hungry Hippie has them in fun fabrics.

Military Monday

Welcome to Military Monday! Each Monday I am going to blog about fantastic shops owned by members of the Homefront Team. Homefront members are military spouses and even a few active duty military! I’m not going to do interviews or anything like that. I am just going to present you with a small sampling of their shop and tell you my favorites. In fact, the shop won’t even know they are featured until this post comes out (‘cuz I’m sneaky like that!).

Today’s shop is A Stone’s Throw. Stone’s has a hubby in the Marine Corps. I know this because she has a USMC bag in her shop! Her shop has all these cute bags, headbands, wristlets and even wine bags! The shop has had really cute bags for a while, but my favorites are from her newest fabrics. Ok, I’m a sucker for Amy Butler and she has a bunch of Amy Butler goodies in the shop. Anyway, if you want a headband to match your bag - she has that! I have been eyeing her headbands for a while and hoping my head would change shape so I could wear them. Since that isn’t going to happen, I will just have to tell all of you and let you buy them.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - the Air Force Way

I saw this on Laura's blog and decided it was too got to not share here. I am fortunate to have my Air Force husband home this Christmas, but many of our friends are spending it far from their families. Please take a moment to remember all the troops that are serving far from home this Christmas.

Twas the night before Christmas, and he lived all alone;
In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
and to see what manner of person in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight did I see;
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the mantle, just boots filled with sand,
And on the wall hung many pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, and awards of all kinds,
Suddenly a thought so sobering came into my mind.
For this house was much different, it was so dark and dreary,
I was in the house of an Airman, once I could see clearly.

The Airman lay sleeping, silent, all alone;
Curled upon the floor in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
Not exactly how I imagined I'd find an airman soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?
I then realized the families I saw on this night,
Owed their lives to these airmen who were willing to fight.

For soon 'round the world the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed their freedom each month of the year,
Because of the airmen, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many more lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve, in some land far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
And I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The Airman awakened and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice;
I fight for our freedom, I don't ask for more,
My life is my God, my country, my Air Force."

The Airman rolled over and drifted back to sleep,
But I couldn't control it, I started to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still
Until we both shivered hard from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark night
This Guardian of Honor so willing to fight.
Then the Airman rolled over, and with a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day and all is secure."

One look at my watch and I knew he was right
Merry Christmas, my friend, and to all a Good Night!

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