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  • My name is Tara Crooks and I am a mama to two amazing little girls and married to my best friend. I'm also an Army wife of fourteen years, an author, a speaker, a columnist, and a talk radio show host. When asked, my friends would tell you I am hard-working, funny, energetic, and determined. Those that know me professionally would tell you I have an ability to inspire and empower others. To me, I'm just me - I don't know how to be anyone else - and the older I get the more I learn to appreciate finding my place on this journey.

I am an Army spouse – HEAR ME ROAR!

Empowerment is defined as having the right to make one's own choices and of having the ability to act on them. It can also be defined as a mechanism by which people, organizations, and communities gain mastery over their affairs. An Army spouse is a pretty amazing creature. He/she can do so many things and is most often left to do them on his/her own. That concept has been referred to as a “single-married person.” The life of a soldier’s spouse is anything but mundane. There is always an adventure around the bend. So, what is it that makes these creatures so amazing? Who inspires them to do what they do? What is empowerment by their definition? In a nutshell, what makes them say “I AM AN ARMY SPOUSE, HEAR ME ROAR”? Sarah, an Read more [...]
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Easter Basket For The Troops

              Hippity-hoppity Easter is on its way! To gear up for this fun holiday I’ve gathered some fun and playful ideas for you to remind your soldier that spring has sprung! Hoppy packing! Personal Touches Picture of you, your kids, or your dogs with Easter bunny Pictures of past Easter celebrations Hidden Easter egg puzzle/maze Easter trivia (download some off Google) Easter drawings or crafts by your children Decorations Easter basket Cascarones Line the box with green plastic grass or basket filler Plastic Eggs (filled with candy or love notes) Stuffed baby duck or bunny rabbit Easter window clings Easter confetti “Happy Easter” banner Pastel Read more [...]
Adrienne May - March 22, 2012 - 6:18 am

I love themed care packages. Sometimes I can’t wait for a holiday so I can integrate that into my packages…just makes them seem so festive and fun!

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Luck O’ The Care Package

The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in this country, in Boston. Today, people celebrate the day with parades, wearing of the green, and drinking beer. While all of those things can’t take place “over there” for your soldier you can create him/her a wonderful holiday care package to make the “first green of spring” a little greener for them! Personal Touches List of why you’re so “lucky” to have your soldier in your life Pictures of past St Patrick’s day celebrations Green t-shirt or green “shower shoes” St Patty’s day trivia (download some off Google) Shamrock & Leprechaun drawings by your children CD of Irish Read more [...]
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Tax Tips for Military Spouses

As a military spouse tax time can be a bit stressful to say the least. There are regular tax questions: What are the new changes to tax law? What can I deduct? Who can I claim? Then there is an entirely new set of questions because you’re a spouse of a service member: How do I file our joint return with my service member deployed? What state do I file my taxes in? What benefits are we allowed as military? To answer most of the commonly asked questions the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has an Armed Forces' Tax Guide available for download - IRS Publication 3, which summarizes many important military-related tax topics. Publication 3 may also be ordered by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). Prior to 2009 Read more [...]
shannon - February 27, 2012 - 1:20 am

My husband and I PCS’d 7-2010. We have a house still for sale in another state. Do you know if there are any tax breaks or programs to help with this hardship?

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Valentine’s Day Care Package Ideas

I know I’m not the only one scrambling these last few weeks of January trying to find ideas for a Valentine’s Day care package that will knock my soldier’s socks off! I’ve hit the social media scene and military blogs all over. There were some great ideas, but in general most of us seem hard pressed to come up with more than a trip down the massive candy aisle at our local commissary. So I put my thinking cap on and asked around to come up with some super fabulous and creative Valentine’s Day ideas that will tell that special someone in our lives that we just can’t live without them! Red hots or their favorite candy Handwritten love poem or song Handmade Valentine Hershey’s kisses and hugs “Hot Pants” - boxer Read more [...]
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