Ingredients:

• 1 can pie filling
• 1 stick of butter, melted
• 1 boxed cake mix (or muffin mix)

Directions:

• Place pie filling into crockpot.
• Mix butter and cake mix – texture will be crumbly.
• Place cake mix mixture in crockpot over pie filling.
• Cook on low for 2-3 hours.
• Serve with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream & Enjoy!

So, if you are looking for an easy dessert for your next meal or potluck, throw this deliciousness into your crockpot and watch your family and friends rave about how amazing it is.

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Now, since most of us are in all walks of life, and celebrate so many holidays differently, I wanted to show case some Thanksgiving event attire that will speak to almost anyone!

Here are some of my favorite trend that are out there right now:

• I absolutely love this wrap dress. It comes in so may colors, but for fall this orange is really doing it for me! I have a very short torso so the high waist really compliments my figure and the flowing skirt hides all the things having 5 kids still shows. You can dress this up more with accessories yet it is still casual enough to feel polished, yet not over dressed for the most low-key Friendsgiving events.
• This next dress is something a little more out of my comfort zone, but is so on trend right now. The shorter style is not too revealing, but you can always pair it with tights or leggings if you so desire. This dark green would go great for any holiday, but really spoke to me when I saw it! The material is very comfortable and the fit is so flattering. I love the ruffle and flare of the skirt.
• If you are like most and don’t want the high maintenance of a dress, but need something a bit more high end looking, I highly suggest this romper. The outfit is made of a light weight material, and easily looks super polished as is or add some extra accessories to really up your game!
• Now some of us do still have to work on Thanksgiving and I saw this awesome pant suit for work. It’s dressy enough to be business casual attire, but comfy enough for me to eat as many helpings of stuffing as you want. Plus, they have so many color options that you can wear your favorite football team attire right underneath.

With so many amazing trends to choose from right now, it can be a challenge to find the right look for you. We have started our new Tactical Trends section in our Amazon storefront where we will have great looks like these and more. So, let’s skip the sweatpants and wear something that makes us feel great!

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I am a military spouse with four beautiful kids who are growing up way differently than I have. They are all under 9 years old and have lived in five different states. It’s crazy to think I never even left my home state until I was 27 years old, and they were halfway around the world before they were 5!

This month, we honor the sacrifices these kids have made, most without even knowing they have sacrificed anything at all. We wanted to share a bit about some of our kiddos as we celebrate all of the military kids for the Month of the Military Child?

Kristyn: I asked my kids what their favorite snacks are?

• Anabelle (9 years-old): “I’d say… Oreo Cakesters! Or ice cream…It’s hard to choose.”
• Bubba (8-years-old): “Sour Warheads are my favorite snack ever!”
• Tricia (5-years-old): “My favorite snack is Watermelon.”
• Helena (2-yrs-old): “I love Mac n’ Cheese!”

Cassi: Cassi asked Jack to draw what it is like to be a military kid and shared his creativity with us!

Jenn:

Being a military family can be an amazing and yet, totally challenging experience. Our kiddos have to be so resilient for all of the opportunities that the military may place upon us as a family.  However, we have to stay together and connected as a family! It takes a lot of work to make it along this journey, but it can be totally worth it!

This picture is from quite some time ago, but I think it is a great representation for the Month of the Military Child! Life may look a little different for these kiddos, but we are here for them…always!

Kate: She asked her kids what their favorite and least favorite things were about being a military child.

• Oldest:
  • Favorite: Seeing new places everywhere we move my favorite place has been London.
  • Least Favorite: Having to leave friends and make new ones.
• Youngest:
  • Favorite: Getting to make new friends and live in new houses.
  • Least Favorite: Leaving friends behind.

Military kids are so resilient, but they have a lot of big feelings about this journey too! We hope that you have enjoyed this little glimpse into who we celebrate this month!

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Candies and cookies are a main staple in our holiday season. Growing up, my parents’ house turned into Santa’s Bake Shop and now the magic has started in our house. I wanted to find a recipe that would satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth, and boy did I find one with these Brownie Turtle Cookies, using my personal favorite…M&M’s!! This will definitely be on Santa’s Cookie Plate at the Buchanan’s this holiday season.

Ingredients:

• 2 squares (1 oz each) unsweetened baking chocolate
• 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup M&M’S MINIS MILK Chocolate Candies, divided
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350*F.
• Lightly grease cookie sheets; set aside.
• Heat chocolate and shortening on 2-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until melted; remove from heat.
• Mix in sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
• Blend in flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Stir in 2/3 cups of M&M’S MINIS Milk Chocolate Candies.
• For each cookie, arrange 3 pecan halves, with ends almost touching at center, on prepared cookie sheets.
• Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto center of each group of pecans; mound the dough slightly.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or just until set. Do not overbake. 
• Cool completely on wire racks.
• In a small bowl, combine ice cream topping, coconut, and chopped nuts; top each cookie with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of mixture.
• Press the remaining 1/2 cup M&M’S MINIS Milk Chocolate Candies into the topping
• Serve & Enjoy!

These were definitely a hit in my house and I know they will be in yours too!

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My kids love having movie nights with pizza, popcorn, and all of the extra snacks they can stomach. We want our Halloween movie night to be extra special, so we decided to try a new twist on our pizza fix to fit with our Halloween-themed movie night. I have found a recipe for WHEAT THINS Mummy Pizza Dip that is to die for. It is absolutely delicious, so easy to make, and the kids loved helping out. The little ones added all of their own favorite toppings and created some creepy-looking mummies. The best part is we can make a big dish for everyone to share or divide it into smaller crocks for each person to have their own.

WHEAT THINS Mummy Pizza Dip

Prep Time: 10 min Total Time: 30 min

• Makes 3 cups dip, or 24 servings, 2 Tbsp. dip and 11 WHEAT THINS each.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup turkey pepperoni slices (about 2 oz.), divided 1 pkg. (8 oz.) Neufchatel cheese, softened
• 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 2 Tbsp. shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped green peppers
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 5 sticks (1 oz. each) reduced-fat mozzarella string cheese 1 pitted black olive, cut crosswise in half
• WHEAT THINS Big Snacks

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Reserve 2 pepperoni slices for later use; chop remaining pepperoni slices.
• Beat Neufchatel, oregano, 1 cup shredded mozzarella and 1 Tbsp. Parmesan in medium
  bowl with mixer until blended.
• Spread onto bottom of 2-qt. casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with chopped pepperoni and green peppers.
• Cover with pizza sauce; top with remaining shredded mozzarella and Parmesan
• Pull string cheese into strips; place over dip to resemble a mummy. Add reserved pepperoni slices for the mummy’s eyes, tucking pepperoni slices under cheese strips until partially covered.
• Bake for 15 to 20 min. or until the dip is hot and bubbly.
• Place olive halves on pepperoni slices for the pupils of the mummy’s eyes.
• Serve with WHEAT THINS.

Notes:

• Substitutions:
  • Substitute 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil or oregano for the dried oregano leaves.
  • Substitute a 9-inch pie plate for the 2-qt. casserole dish.
• Additional Ideas:
  • Add 3/4 cup of your favorite pizza toppings, such as chopped onions, crumbled cooked bacon or sausage, sliced olives, or chopped cooked fresh broccoli or spinach, for the chopped pepperoni and green peppers.

Nutrition Information Per Serving: 170 calories, 9g total fat, 3g saturated fat, 20mg cholesterol, 390mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate, 5g total sugars includes 3g added sugars, 2g dietary fiber, 7g protein

We hope you all have a Happy Halloween and don’t forget to share your Halloween snack creations and favorite Halloween movies in the comments below. And as always, be sure to head to your local Commissary to grab WHEAT THINS and all of your ingredients for this incredible recipe today! Stay spooky, my friends!

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The Continental Navy was formed in 13 October 1775 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This date was adopted as the “Navy’s Birthday”, but many cities claim to be the birthplace of The Navy. Let’s just say it is more than historically accurate to say the Navy has many birthplaces and leave it at that.

There are many traditions that are honored on the Navy’s day of birth that include the cutting of the cake as mentioned above, the ringing of the bells, and the Birthday Message from the Chief of Naval Operations.

Did you know there is a Naval History and Heritage Command? You can find out ALL the things when it comes to the U.S. Navy! There are so many amazing details and places to learn more about the Navy, including 10 museums, and so much more!

We continue to look to the future to all the men and women that will serve on land, air, and sea with the US Navy and always show how much we appreciate everything they have done and will do. As a Navy Spouse, I know the sacrifices first hand of those who serve, and the sacrifices their families make. Today is a day we celebrate the Navy, and the life it has given us.

Happy Birthday

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On September 11, we honor those who perished in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. I personally have had the honor to visit one of the sites of these attacks- The World Trade Centers. I remember being in 4th grade and our class taking the yearly field trip to NYC back in 1994. We climbed to the top of the Statue of Liberty and could look out and see the “Twin Towers”. I never really knew their significance, just that they were really cool-looking.

Then, 9/11 happened, and we were sitting in class watching as the second airplane crashed into the second tower. I had a flashback of that day standing in the crown of the Statue of Liberty and was brought to tears. Then, we heard reports of planes going down near DC and in Pennsylvania. Being in New Jersey at the time, we kept asking- Where next? There were so many images of destruction and chaos. Our Junior Year trip to NYC was canceled because of the destructive aftermath.

Since that date, every year on September 11, the acting President sends out an Executive order for Patriot Day. Americans are encouraged to fly their flags at half-mast and observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. (EST)-the time the first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. 

On September 11, 2011, the 9/11 Memorial was opened to the public in NYC. This site is so ominous and beautiful at the same time. Seeing all the names of those who were in the building and/or sacrificed their lives to save others is beyond humbling. To stand in this park and know that years before there were expansive buildings that were just destroyed and that 2,996 lives taken is just beyond words. The 9/11 Memorial website has a ton of information about the museum itself and tools to help you plan a visit.

So this September 11th, I hope you sit and reflect on the events that happened that day. If you have children, talk to them about it as it is a huge part of American history.

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If you are like me, my home office has become a perpetual dumping ground. I am a Full-Time WFHM (Work From Home Mom), and my office has become total chaos! I throw the papers I intend to file, the mail I haven’t gone through yet, and store all the things I just don’t know what to do with in there. I am finally ready to tackle this mess!

I am focusing on making this space better for blogging, keeping kids occupied when I’m working, and a perfect space I can work in whenever an opportunity calls! So let’s get started!

Gather the Trash

I first like to start out by grabbing a trash bag and gathering all the trash I can find. If there are papers I am unsure of, I set one designated area for those to go through at a later time. Sometimes, this can be super quick and other times, it can take a lot of time. There are times where I let the mail just pile up for a week or more, and when I take the time to actually go through it all, there are usually just a handful of things I needed to actually keep! So, that is a great place to start purging & organizing!

Take It There Now

If there is anything that clearly does not belong in the office, I bring it to their designated room immediately. This may take more time now, but will help make more progress in the long run! It is amazing how this one small step can make big strides for getting that office space back in working order! Sometimes I use a carrying basket and make a trip around the house putting everything away!

Clear The Clutter

When you are clearing the clutter, you should be able to start seeing those horizontal surfaces again. Clear surfaces help to clear the mind! I don’t know about you, but I have nice looking furniture, so it looks great when those surfaces are no longer cluttered! Plus, the mental benefit from the organization is a plus! Wipe those surfaces down with your favorite cleaning wipe, and see it shine!

Organize Those Drawers

You do not need to go out and buy fancy drawer organizers. I bet you have some leftover boxes or other containers around that you can utilize. Get creative! However, if you are interested, there are some great options out there for not to much to help you get your drawer organization under control! I like the clear look for my organization, as you can see!

Finally…

Remember those papers we set aside in the beginning? Well, now is the time to go through that pile of papers. Now that you have a clear surface to work on, go through those papers and either file or shred/purge as needed. Those papers have now disappeared from your desktop and you are ready to use this amazing space that you have created! Happy Organizing!

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Purple Heart Day is celebrated on August 7th as a way to honor and give back to those who bravely represented their country and were wounded or killed while defending their country. Since 2014, this day has been celebrated all over the nation in many different ways.

This day of celebration has only been in practice for over a decade, but the award (or its likeness) has actually been around since 1782. George Washington himself awarded 3 of the original Purple Hearts, designated then as a Badge of Merit, to honor enlisted and deserving people for a singular meritorious action. This award was a piece of silk bound through it with a thin edge of silver. Among Washington awarding the Badges of Merit, he also authorized others to grant the award to those they saw fit. The use of this Badge of Merit faded over the years, but in 1932 it was revived and relaunched into the Purple Heart we all know today. As well as honoring those wounded in combat, this iteration of the Purple Heart recognized commendable action. Then 1944 the Purple Heart was given the purpose we know it for today, specifically to honor those who have been wounded or died.

Do you know who was the first service member to be given the modern Purple Heart? I’ll give you a hint- he is buried in Norfolk, VA where there is a memorial, museum, and research center dedicated to his life.

The answer is General Douglas MacArthur! Ding Ding! You guessed it! General Douglas MacArthur was awarded the first modern Purple Heart for his service in the Pacific during World War II.

Now for another trivia question…Who was the first woman to receive a Purple Heart?

The answer is Beatrice Mary MacDonald! Ding Ding! You’ve done it again! Beatrice Mary McDonald was a World War l nurse who is one of the most highly decorated women of World War I. She was awarded the Purple Heart in 1936, many years after the war had been over.

Since then there have been a total of almost 2 million Purple Hearts awarded. Now do you see why we need a day to celebrate every single person that has received this honor?

Here are few ways that you can honor this special day:

1 – Raise and wave a Purple Heart flag in front of your house.

2 – If possible, take the time to visit a Purple Heart medal awardee. As veterans, they appreciate the company of people who would listen to their story.

3 – Lay flowers at the grave of a fallen Purple Heart medal recipient in memory of their deeds.

4 – Respectfully salute a veteran. It might be a simple gesture but it would likely warm the heart of a true hero.

If you are ever in New York near New Windsor, you can stop by and learn more about the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.

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Well, it’s almost here…Summer is coming to an end.
Days are getting shorter and the nights are getting crisper.
Those magical bonfires we have every summer weekend are about to fade with the falling leaves.

However, we never let summer end without that one last epic family gathering. Typically, we would have a camp out in our backyard and make tons of S’mores. Everyone looks forward to this every year, but this year we decided to do something a little different. With our kids getting older, they enjoy being more independent and being a part of every activity. When it comes to S’mores making, they have a tough time understanding why we can’t touch marshmallows that just came out of the fire, or that you may have to wait a minute for the S’mores to cool before eating. Granted, even I have trouble remembering this at times and have a few moments of burning the roof of my mouth to prove it.

Also, my kids love the idea of S’mores, but not so much the idea of taking the time to roast a marshmallow to perfection and assemble the perfect stack. And don’t even get me started on the sticky gooey mess that is inevitable. Every bonfire is always cut short due to having to take a bath to get the marshmallow/chocolate off of their hair/face/arm/leg/etc.

So, this year we found the perfect alternative to the standard S’mores- S’mores Nachos. Last weekend it was particularly rainy and we could not have our typical Friday night bonfire. So, I broke out this recipe and they have been asking for them every night since. These ‘nachos’ are so simple to make, and I even let each kid add their favorite variety of chocolate candy to customize their own portion of ‘nachos’. The best part is there was virtually no mess, minus a few sticky fingers and chocolate mustaches.

Prep time: 10 min Total time: 10 min Servings: Makes 6 servings, 6 topped graham pieces each.

Ingredients

• 9 HONEY MAID Honey Grahams, quartered
• 2 milk chocolate bars (1.55 oz. each), chopped
• 1 cup miniature marshmallows

Preparation

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Place graham pieces, with sides touching, in single layer on parchment-covered baking sheet; top with chocolate and marshmallows.
• Bake 4 to 5 min. or until marshmallows are puffed and lightly toasted.
• Remove from oven.
• Let stand 2 min. before serving.

I hope you get a chance to test out the S’mores Nachos before summer’s end. You won’t regret it. Be sure to comment below and show me a picture of you and your family enjoying this delicious recipe!

So, head on over to your local Commissary and grab your ingredients for S’mores Nachos today!

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