Coups for troops

Who knew that people could actually use coupons past their expiration dates??? Families of troops living overseas can use expired coupons up to 6 months after their expiration date!
The military is near and dear to my heart. My husband is Veteran and we are always looking for ways to stay connected. Overseas families typically live off one income and coups make the money stretch a little farther. They usually have access to internet coupons, but they don’t get inserts in their newspapers.  
I have been wanting to send my coupons overseas for a while and cleaning out my coupon binder was enough to push me over the edge! Here is the mess of expired coups I  had:

I got the idea from Raining Hot Coupons and did a little more research past her site as well. I don’t have enough to send in a flat rate box like she did, and I was a little intimated by the customs form that she filled out. From what I understand from other sites is that if you are sending it as a regular parcel post (and it weighs less than 16 oz.) that you don’t need a customs form. Just put the base information where you put the address, put your return address, and the shipping rate is the same as mail domestically since it’s a military base. Here are the requirements:

1. Coups can only be 30-60 days old. Yes, they can use them up to 6 months past the date, but it’ll take half that time to get there.

2. Only manufacturer coupons (no store coupons)

3. Separate into “food” and “non-food” baggies or envelopes (no paper clips or rubber bands)

4. Choose your base. Look for the ones that say “open adoptions”. I didn't actually “adopt” a base, but I am sending mine to one in Japan.  I wish I knew a family that I could directly ship coups to, but for now this will do. Hubby did have one request: That they were sent to an Air Force Base ;) It’s a military thing I guess to be totally sold out for the branch you fought with.

Here are my newly sorted piles

The pile up top is my trash (store coupons).

Really, this was one of the easiest things I’ve done in a while… a few $ shipping and it will be good to go!

Oh no you didn't

Oh yes I did!

Seriously who can say they’ve monogrammed toilet paper?? *giggle snort*
So after going to a ladies retreat at Camp Hope this past weekend, one of the topics of discssion was hospitality- having a home that isn’t necessarily always squeaky clean but being willing to have others over to serve them. In the discussion, the ladies leading it had giveaway baskets that went along with what they were talking about and one kit was a “get ready quick” kit. In it was some lysol wipes, windex wipes, furniture polish wipes, and a roll of toilet paper WITH AN APPLIQUED PUMPKIN ON IT! ohemgee I died. It was adorable and EXACTLY what I put on shirts… I mean who would’ve thought….

So in a matter of days we are saying goodbye to one of our closest family friends. They’re only moving an hour away to Athens, but still… they’re moving. Our small group planned a little good-bye morning filled with well-wishes and cards… if you know me well, you know I DON’T DO CARDS…I’ll e-mail and call and even send a letter… but in my opinion cards are a waste of $ and I’d rather have something to give. Well this card swap was planned in advance and I was a little hesitant to speak up because, well, it is sorta weird to have a pet-peeve, weird-ish fettish against cards. Our friends know this about us, and so I was just going to show up card-less and shrug it off like I usually do-
until I saw the appliqued toilet paper… cards=paper=toiletpaper… I mean it all makes sense in my head.

So I got right to work and in less than the time it would have taken me to go to the store, stand in line, pay, get home, and sign the card I have a perfectly monogrammed roll of toilet paper. Now I fully expect them to rip the monogram off, stick it on the tp holder and go… I mean I don’t expect toilet paper to be on display forever… but it was an experience, it’s unique, and I think they loved it!

Here’s some pictures in case you were as mystified as I was the first time I ever saw this…


I used about six layers of toilet paper with some really stiff stabilizer. Sulky solvy went on top so the needle didn't get snagged by the TP.

5/5 things

I seriously have no idea where September went… I am ready for cooler weather, but dreading the cold winter!

I am currently on a sewing/embroidering order hiatus. I need to focus my energy on other things, and as much as I like to make things for other, I also like to do things for me/us- so we're breaking up for a little bit, taking a break, calling it quits. Hopefully not for forever, but no idea when/it if will start up again. I have been crazy busy with my 5th grade cherubs, my 21 month old cherub, and my wonderful husband (I'm sure he's glad I didn't call him a cherub). We have been running non-stop and every weekend in October was filled up by the beginning of August- holyhowdoesthatevenhappen?

5 things that have happened in the past 2 months:
Luke started saying bubble and ball and he exclaims "ohhhhh"- super cute. 

We had a new deck built on our house. 

Luke started daycare/preschool. It is the absolute highlight of my week to pick up his art projects on Friday!

Josh got a third job. I am so thankful for how hard he works for our family. 

We hung a chandelier in our bathroom. Yippe!

5 things on tap for this coming month:
His 10 year high school reunion. 

A yard sale. 

Finish the bathroom project: painting glossy stripes. 

Do some Christmas planning/sewing/2 year party planning. Christmas is quite chaotic here with Luke's birthday, our anniversary, and Christmas all within 10 days. 

Squeeze in some time to go to a pumpkin patch. 

Maybe that list will motivate me? Probably not.