Either way, you’re still showing up with a gift in hand and probably a little glitter on your uniform. So, if you’re staring at your exchange name thinking, “What do I even get for this person?” I’ve got you covered.

Caffeine is the Love Language

Across the Guard, we’ve all got our caffeines of choice. Your MPs are rolling in with Monsters, Ghosts, and probably a Zyn pack or two. Meanwhile, your PAO are sipping Starbucks or Dutch Bros like it’s a lifestyle.

You can’t go wrong with a fun mug, a pack of someone’s go-to energy drink, or even a little “drill fuel” basket. Check your local Exchange for Starbucks gift sets or energy drink bundles, or browse the Commissary’s holiday deals for some festive finds.

Because whether it’s caffeine, chaos, or both, it’s basically how we function.

Tactical Stocking Stuffers

We all know that one person who’s always losing their flashlight. Nothing says “I care about you, battle” quite like a multitool, a Gerber, or another knife. Because can you really ever have too many?

You can find great stocking stuffers in the Exchange Sports & Outdoors section, or grab quick-shipping tactical gear on Amazon. Throw in some 550 cord or a mini first aid kit, and boom. Practical, thoughtful, and guaranteed to get used.

Cozy Barracks (or Office) Vibes

Tell me you’re in the Guard without telling me you’re in the Guard. It’s winter drill, the barracks thermometer is stuck at 65, and you’re layered up like you’re going to the field. Let Santa help your battles out this year with something cozy like a twin-sized fleece blanket or those fuzzy socks that feel like a warm hug.

Or better yet, an extra-long phone charger! Amazon has great charging cord bundles that save the day when everyone’s fighting over one outlet during AT season.

Snack Attack Pack

If you’re getting food, you’re bold. Super bold. But honestly, it’s a power move. Some of the biggest hits I’ve seen across the guard have been the fancy tropical gummy bears, jerky and cheese combos, chips, and gum. All the gum.

You can load up on drill-day favorites and grab those boujee candies and jerky packs from the Exchange’s Food & Gift section.

Oh, and if your unit allows it, and you don’t have anyone under 21, a little bottle of something festive never hurts. Just sayin’.

Bonus Idea: The Big Dill Gift

The biggest hit of our unit’s party last year was the Big Dill gift. I’m talking pickle socks, pickle chips, a pickle ornament, full commitment. It started as a joke and somehow turned into the most traded gift of the day.

You can find pickle-themed gifts and ornaments galore on Amazon or even grab some snackable bites.

Every unit’s got its own vibe. Ours does a $20 limit, but honestly, it’s never about the price tag. It’s about the creativity, the inside jokes, and the memories that make it all worth it.

Wrapping it Up (Literally)

Whether you go funny, cozy, or caffeine-fueled, the best Secret Santa gifts are the ones that make your battle laugh, feel seen, and maybe even say, “Dang, that’s actually useful.”

So, grab your wrapping paper, cue up your favorite holiday playlist, and sleigh this year’s unit party because if anyone can bring the holiday spirit in between drills, it’s the Guard.

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This recipe can utilize a whole heap of leftovers such as turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Pair these ingredients with your favorite cheese and some Hawaiian Rolls and you have a new finger food that everyone will love. You can even get fancy by using pretzel buns for your sliders.

Ingredients:

• 1 Pack Hawaiian Sweet Rolls 12 Count
• Turkey Leftovers
• Prepared Stuffing
• 1 Can Cranberry Sauce
• 6 Lg. Slices of Provolone or Swiss
• 1 Stick Butter
• 1 T Mustard
• 1 T Poppy Seeds (optional)
• 1 T Worcestershire Sauce
• ⅛ Cup Brown Sugar

Directions:

1. Cut all the Hawaiian sweet rolls in half and lay in the bottom half in a 9×13 baking dish.
2. Layer the rolls with a layer of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.
3. Top with the slices of cheese. 
4. Place the other half of the rolls on top.
5. Run a knife in between all rolls to separate slightly.
6. In a small saucepan, combine butter, mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar and bring to a boil.
7. Spoon the sauce over the rolls. Do NOT pour the sauce on top.
8. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
9. Before baking cover with foil.
10. Preheat oven to 350°F
11. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
12. Remove foil for the last 5 minutes of baking so the tops of rolls brown slightly.
13. Serve & Enjoy!

Don’t toss out all that food you spent so much time cooking, because a little creativity can go a long way. Don’t forget to grab all the ingredients at your local Commissary.

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Ingredients:

• Eggnog
• Spiced Rum
• Coffee Liqueur
• Spices such as Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cardamom (optional)

Directions:

• Simply add a 1 ounce shot of the spiced rum to your glass.
• Top with a 1 ounce shot of coffee liqueur.
• Add your eggnog.

• If you’re making a pitcher or punch bowl, add 1/4 cup of rum and a 1/4 cup of coffee liqueur to 1 quart of Eggnog.
• Stir to combine.

• Top each glass with a sprinkling of spices to add a little extra holiday cheer.
• I used cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s so delicious!

• My husband wandered in while I was testing this recipe and insisted on his own glass. We both approve whole heartedly of the Spiked Eggnog! Now I have to buy more to celebrate National Eggnog Day this weekend!

This recipe is really simple and REALLY delicious. It definitely puts me in the holiday spirit! As always, we ask that you please enjoy responsibly. The holidays are a time to come together and celebrate. NEVER drink and drive.

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Ingredients:

• 8 oz. Cream Cheese
• 2 1/3 cups Vanilla Wafers
• 3 Tbsp Caramel Topping
• 4 – 4oz. Semi-sweet Chocolate, melted
• 1/4 cup Chopped Pecans

Directions:

• Mix first 3 ingredients until well blended.
• Shape into 42 (1 inch) balls.
• Freeze for 10 minutes.
• Dip balls into melted chocolate and place them on a single layer of shallow wax paper lined pan.
• Sprinkle with chopped nuts.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
• Serve & Enjoy!

This recipe is perfect for your holiday parties or table for just you and the family. Since this is no bake and can be frozen for later you can always have some as a treat any other day of the week! Don’t forget to pick up your ingredients at your local Commissary and NO BAKE away!

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There are some fantastic traditions around the world, all involving reading! Here are a few that I have found, and that are worth some consideration for either later this month or next year. 

These are a couple of my favorites:

1. Christmas Eve Read-a-thon: The night before Christmas in Iceland, everyone is given a new book, and they spend the night reading. This is one tradition I could fully support! I mean, who else has pulled this tradition several times during the year!? I know there are times when I am working on a book that I think to myself “I can totally finish this tonight!” Not sure if its always a good idea, but those book hangover mornings are totally worth it.
2. 25 Books of Christmas: Get 25 books, and put under the tree. Wrap them or stick them in a bag that the kiddos will not be able to see what they are. Each night, let them reach into the bag and choose one book. Read the book together, and use it to count down to Christmas!
3. Books for Troops: Find a couple of books that you have loved, and take them to a USO. While you can do this one year round, there are more and more troops traveling around the holidays, and you never know when one of your favorite books might become their new favorite too! You can also donate to post libraries, or find someone sending boxes to deployed troops and add a few books into that.

While these are three of my favorite traditions, there are so many more out there! A quick search or visit to the library can help to uncover more of these great ideas and perhaps help to start some new traditions in your home! Wanna see some of our favorite books? Make sure to check out our Amazon Storefront Book Nook sections!

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Our first recipe is great for when the family gathers during the holidays. You can surprise them with this delicious cheese ball that is great with Ritz, Triscuit or Wheat Thins Crackers or as a centerpiece to your charcuterie board. If you’re after something sweet, and you love red velvet, you have to try our easy Oreo Cookie brownie version! Using boxed cake mix gives you classic flavor, but we turn it into a thick, chewy brownie.

Tis the season for tasty treats! Try these easy holiday recipes that are sure to be a hit!

Holiday Tree Antipasto Cheese Ball

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, softened
• 1 pkg. (5.2 oz.) garlic and herb cheese spread
• provolone cheese cubes
• Mini hard salami slices
• Assorted black and green olives
• Yellow and red cherry tomatoes
• Canned pickled sweet piquanté peppers, drained
• fresh rosemary sprigs
• RITZ Crackers
• TRISCUIT Crackers
• WHEAT THINS Original Snacks

Directions:

• Mix cream cheese with the garlic and herb cheese spread until blended.
• Shape into cone shape; stand on serving board or tray.
• Cover with cheese cubes; pepperoni and salami slices; olives and peppers, using toothpicks to attach ingredients to cream cheese tree.
• Insert stem ends of rosemary sprigs into the tree as shown in the photo.
• Serve with the crackers and WHEAT THINS.
• Use a guideline of 2 Tbsp. cheese spread or 1 oz. cheese cubes, 1/2 oz. meat and 1 oz. (or labeled serving size) of crackers per person. Have plenty of RITZ Crackers, TRISCUIT Crackers and WHEAT THINS Snacks available for guests to choose from along with the cheeses, meats and veggies. *Serving size of RITZ Crackers is 1/2 oz.

Notes:

• Make Ahead – The cream cheese mixture can be mixed together and shaped into the tree shape ahead of time. Wrap in plastic wrap, then refrigerate for up to 2 days. Remove the shaped tree from the refrigerator, cover with the cheese cubes, meats, olives and peppers as directed, then refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving.
• Substitute – Substitute 1/3 less fat cream cheese (Neufchatel) for the cream cheese.

OREO Red Velvet Brownies

Prep Time: 10 min Total Time: 1 h 0 min Makes 20 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. (2-layer size) red velvet cake mix
• ¾ cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 16 OREO Cookies, coarsely chopped, divided
• 2 Tbsp. ready-to-spread cream cheese frosting

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Line a 13×9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Spray with cooking spray; set aside.
• Empty cake mix into medium bowl. Add oil and eggs; stir just until blended. Stir in half the cookies.
• Spread batter evenly onto the bottom of the prepared pan; top with remaining chopped cookies.
• Bake 12 to 14 min. or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely. Use foil handles to remove brownie from pan.
• Microwave frosting in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 5 sec. or just until softened. (Do not microwave until melted.) Spoon frosting into a resealable plastic bag. Cut a small piece off one bottom corner of the bag; use to drizzle frosting over the brownie. Let stand until firm before cutting brownie into pieces to serve.

Notes:

• Make it Special for Holiday Celebrations – After drizzling cooled brownie with the warmed frosting, top with sprinkles in the colors of the holiday at hand, such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or Fourth of July.
• Substitute – Prepare with vanilla or chocolate frosting.

Nutrition Information per Serving: 200 Calories, 11 g Total Fat, 2 g Saturated Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 20 mg Cholesterol, 160 mg Sodium, 23 g Total Carbohydrate, 0 g Dietary Fiber, 12g Total Sugars (Includes 11 g Added Sugars), 2 g Protein, 0 %DV Vitamin D, 0 %DV Calcium, 6 %DV Iron, 0 %DV Potassium, 0 %DV Vitamin A, 0 %DV Vitamin C

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So you might be wondering, “How does this work?”  While St. Nicholas Day is on December 6th, the children put their shoes, socks, or stockings out on the night of the 5th.  Then, the next morning, they find their special treats left by St. Nicholas.

The character of St. Nicholas is derived from Nicholas of Myra. People left their shoes out on the stoop at night with hopes St. Nicholas would come by.  He had a reputation of putting coins and treats in their shoes in the middle of the night, and he was also known for doing good deeds along the way.  

There are many specialty foods that may be served during the Feast of St. Nicholas. Here are just a few that I think sound amazing:

• France – Pork with Mustard and Apples
• Germany – Pfannkuchen, aka German Pancakes
• Italy – Bean Soup with Escarole

You can find many more of the main dishes, including the recipes, served during the Feast of St. Nicholas at the St. Nicholas Center website.

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I seem to always forget my reusable bags, so when I go to the Commissary and am asked  “Paper or Plastic?” I always choose paper, because I can recycle it! However, the amount of paper bags I have accumulated is UNREAL!

So, as I was unloading what felt like my 100^th bag of groceries, wondering what I am going to do with ALL THES PAPER BAGS, I had an AHA moment…Wrapping Paper! Not only am I saving money on wrapping paper but I am also finding a great use for all these paper bags! WIN-WIN!

Supplies:

• Commissary Paper Bags
• Scissors
• Tape
• Twine/ribbon
• Sprigs of greenery(optional) I used some from bushes in my backyard.

Cut the side and bottom and lay flat, then start wrapping!

When done use whatever ribbon or twine you have and make a bow. You can add gift tags (which you could also make from the paper bags) greenery, pinecones, or whatever you want!

You can also crumple and rub the paper together to get a “crackly” texture, like I did here:

So the next time you get the question “Paper or plastic?”

Answer, paper, and know you can cross off – get wrapping paper – off your list.

This is such a simple way to repurpose your Commissary bags and have some crafty fun while you are at it!

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Ingredients:

• Mild Cheddar Cheese
• Pepper Jack Cheese
• Pepperoni
• Green Seedless Grapes
• 1 Pear
• 2 Carrots
• Crackers

Directions:

• Halve the pear and place it in the lower center of your board.
• Cut 2 baby carrots into feet and add to the pear “body”.
• Cube the pepper jack cheese and place them around your pear “body”.
• Clean the grapes and place them around the pepper jack cheese.
• Add the individual slices of pepperoni around the grapes.
• Cut the mild cheddar into thin squares and layer around the pepperoni.
• Serve your “turkey” & enjoy!

Tips:

• This takes about 30 minutes to create.
• Have a variety of crackers available nearby or on your board.
• My family prefers mild cheddar and pepper jack cheese, but feel free to use whatever other cheeses or finger foods for your guests.

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The theme for Veterans Day 2024 is “A Legacy of Loyalty and Service”. This theme probably hits home to most veterans as our service and loyalty shines through whether you served for a short term or a full career in the military.  I personally spent 21 years serving in the military and there were definitely some sacrifices that came along the way, but the Air Force core values are integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do and I was proud to exhibit those core values in my daily life.

I salute all current military members and veterans because serving this country is not an easy task. In fact, less than 1% of Americans currently serve in the military, which makes our bond even stronger. This November 11th, show your support to our nation’s Veterans.

Here are a few ways to show support:

• When you see a veteran, say “Thank you for your service!”
• Send a care package to our deployed troops.
• Treat a veteran to a free meal.
• Donate to a cause that supports veterans.
• Support veteran-owned companies.

I attended a local football game when they were honoring veterans that night, and I received this ribbon from the ROTC for the high school. While this isn’t the exact version of the Veterans Awareness Ribbon, I am still wearing it as a proud veteran! So, from me, a fellow veteran to all of the other veterans out there, “Thank you for your service!”

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