USO events

As always the USO San Antonio (https://www.facebook.com/USO.SanAntonio) has great events, for all Sailors, those with or without families and all types of activities.  Please "like" their page for more information about current events and check back on a regular basis for all kinds of fun, free and fantastic events.  It's also a great place to volunteer and get your community service bullet point, while helping our own!

On base fun for October!

September Gas Freebie Get a free Rice Krispies Treat bar when you purchase at least 8 gallons of gas or more at one of the AAFES Gas Stations during the month of September.  Also, don’t forget you can also get 5 cents off a gallon of gas when you pay using your Military Star Card.

Youth Basketball Registration 2-19 Oct  The Youth Center is taking registration for basketball 0600-1800, Mon-Fri. Open to ages 5-17. $45 per child. Current physical must be presented at registration. Call 671-2388 for details.

Volunteer Opportunities Looking to give back to our base community? The Youth Center needs volunteers for their World Wide Day of Play event 5 Oct, 1600-1800 & Trick 'r Treat Street 31 Oct, 1830-2030. Also, coaches for youth basketball are needed. POC: Leslie Thompson, leslie.thompson.2@us.af.mil or 671-2388

Oktoberfest - FREE German Dinner, Kids Zone, Prizes & Fun!5 Oct  1630-2200   It's WUNDERBAR! 4th annual Oktoberfest customer appreciation event in authentic German fest tent on Amphitheater grounds (Kenly Ave., next to Gateway Club & across from 37 TRW HQ). FREE full German dinner for adults, FREE kids' meal, Kids Zone, giveaways, prizes, DJ, dancing & merriment! Beverages for sale: real German beer on draught (Paulaner Oktoberfest/Warsteiner Dunkel/Bitburger), soda, water. Complimentary beer tasting. Meet the Bud Girls! Open to all DoD ID cardholders, retirees, contractors & their guests. POC: FSS Marketing, 671-3906.

Chapel Guest Speaking Event JBSA-Lackland Chaplain Corps presents motivational speaker Jeff Struecker, former US Army Ranger on 4 Oct at 1200 in the Gateway Club Ballroom. Free food and drinks will be provided. Feel free to show up or RSVP through e-invite: https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=126905&k=036344007B52.  POC: Chaplain Shannon, Workman, (210) 671-4208 or SrA Eldonta Osborne, (210) 925-3946. Click link to see flyer.

Drop-In Dental Screenings 9 Oct from 0800-1100 The Lackland Pediatric Dental Department will offer drop-in dental screenings for children of active duty and retirees in D200 of the Dunn Dental Clinic, 1615 Truemper St. No appointment is necessary. Children under 13 years of age will receive a dental screening exam, an opinion about the child’s dental condition, and appropriate treatment recommendations or alternatives. If possible, parents should bring a copy of their child’s treatment plan or referral letter from their private dentist. Call 671-9836 for more information.

Freedom Chapel Fall Harvest Fest (Halloween alternative) 31 Oct from 6pm- 8pm. Come and celebrate in a family-friendly atmosphere with plenty of games, prizes, face painting, balloons, petting zoo and tons of candy! Volunteers are welcome. Please contact the chapel at 671-4208 for more information.

So You Think You Can Dance Contest Got moves? Prove it at the Arnold Hall's dance contest on October 19, 6 p.m. You can resgister for one of two categories: ages 16-19 or, ages 20 and older. Open to active dury, dependents, DoD civilians, Reserves, National Guard, retirees and contractors. There are prizes for first-third place in each category. Registration ends October 5. Call 671-2619 for full details.

FREE MARCH MADNESS

In my house, March Madness has always been a kind of religious experience, since I am from the Mid-west.  I love that the NCAA is giving all of us a chance to feel closer to home.  Be sure to thank them for their support of our service.


The 2012 NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Tournament is just around the corner - with more ways to follow and watch live games than ever before. In recognition of all those who serve our great country, the NCAA, CBS, and Turner Broadcasting are offering the gift of free access to watch all 67 live games of NCAA March Madness Live using your computer, iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad and select Android phones. Here's how it works!

1. Pre-register
Visit www.ncaa.com/armedforces and enter your .mil email address in the appropriate area. This will generate an email that you will use to redeem your free access. You can do this anytime leading up to, or during, the tournament.


2. Create Your Account
The email you receive will contain a unique link you will use to create a free 2012 NCAAR March Madness Live account. You don't need to use your military email address for your account - but you do need to use the link within the email to get started. This is a unique link that will be assigned to you and your household. The NCAA, CBS, and Turner will not collect any personal information from you with this account.


3. Enjoy The Madness!
Once your account is created, you will be able to login with your computer at www.ncaa.com/marchmadness and login to the NCAA March Madness Live apps on iPhone/iPod touch, iPad and select Android mobile phones to watch all 67 games of the tournament. Download the mobile apps from the Apple App Store and Android Market.

BBQ, Valentines and Egg Hunts

The Rodeo is in town and we are looking at some cowboys, spurs and calf roping. This is one of the unique highlights of living in South Texas and it comes but once a year. This year, there will be a BBQ cookoff at Sea World that is open to our active duty military members and free for them, and children under 12. You still have to pay to park, unless you opt to take the shuttle. Find out more here.

http://www.sarodeo.com/annual/2012_bbq_cookoff.html

Our local NIOC FRG is planning a skate night, valentine's card making social and an egg hunt. If you would like to be in on the fun, and belong to NIOC access all the information here,

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NIOCTXFRG/

A Snowball's chance in Texas

Lackland Force Support Squadron is hosting a snow day, so bust out your sleds, trash can lids and kiddie pools on January 20th from 4-6 for families, and 6-8 for Tech Training students.  I didn't think there was a snowballs chance in Texas of seeing something like this, but I find surprising things every day!  While you are on the FSS page, select the Spotlight Magazine and sign up for regular alerts to your email address!

http://www.lacklandfss.com/assets/community/arnoldhall/snow_day_2012.pdf

Do you have an EFMP family member?  Do you ever need a break or wish that they could do more activities with children and volunteers that understand their needs?  Did you know there is an organization on Lackland dedicated to strengthen and inspire people with special needs through recreation, respite and education? CampCamp, located in the Admiral Boorda building behind Temporary Lodging.

http://www.campcamp.org/

Trunk or Treat!

Decorate your trunk and bring some treats to pass out for all the kiddos.  If you want some super cute ideas for decorations or DIY treat bags, follow me on Pinterest.  http://pinterest.com/lonestar_star

Halloween Bash via our USO

RSVP to the USO San Antonio for a fun and free little Halloween party.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=278270148859709  Open to all ID card holders and a guaranteed good time!

Gobble Gobble for free!

Toyota of Boerne  is going to have our Turkey for Troops day again this year on November 18th! This year Wal-Mart has joined forces with Toyota of Boerne to bring out an 18 wheeler full of Turkey's! Share this link with all your milfams and get our there for FREE turkeys, cooking not included.

South Texas Fall Fun

If you want to get the feeling of fall here in South Texas, head out to Devine and take advantage of the half price military weekend, http://devineacresfarm.com/blog/half-price-for-military-families-opening-weekend/ with their hayrides, catch and release fish pond, and pumpkin patch it has something for every age!

If you don't have time this weekend, next weekend enjoy a free admission to the South Texas Corn Maize in Hondo. http://southtexasmaize.com/news/2011/09/07/free-military/  If you partake, please send a photo to ombudsman.nioc@gmail.com so that we can see what fun our families are having this year!

Deployed fam freebies

Kids missing Mom or Dad underway or downrange?  Have a cute cuddly quilt made to comfort them until they come home.  Free with registration. http://www.asymca.org/what-we-do-3/national-programs-services/operation-kid-comfort/  Please send a photo to ombudsman.nioc@gmail.com if you participate, we'd love to see your little monkeys enjoying this program.

Tons of freebies all the time at http://thefrugalarmywife.blogspot.com, including links to free troop coloring pages "Sailor friendly", free "Welcome Home" banners and updated organizations to order free care packages.  Please remember to keep your Sailor safe and don't give away information in a public forum!  The internet is like a megaphone, so if you wouldn't yell it over the 1MC at the Command Picnic or broadcast it to all of Walmart, please don't post it on a comment or other public page.  Reputable Non-Profit organizations are dedicated to keeping our families safe, just as much as we are!

Borrow, don't buy that Navy Day Ball Gown

The Lackland Esc provides a http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cinderellas-Closet/109463115741001?ref=ts&sk=info

Chatter: Cinderella's Closet :

Why spend a ton on a dress that you will have photos taken in, and then not want to wear again? After the dress, shoes, hair, nails, tickets, parking and (for us) babysitting cost for the twins, it can be a pretty penny. Now there is no need to spend like crazy to have a great time at the Ball. Celebrate all night and return your dress with your dry cleaning tags within 10 days and you are set. It truly is better than a Fairy Godmother.


'via Blog this'

Navy Pride

I am truly happy that my husband is, and I was, part of a tradition of service that includes such selfless efforts as these. US NAVY Commercial - YouTube: "http://youtu.be/0YFUfuglke0"

I know that not every day is like a Navy commercial, with people in their dress uniform, manning the rails somewhere, or doing a comrel, but the work of the day matters too. The everyday work that we do at home, taking the kids to school or the dentist is just as important that makes it possible to get clean water to people in wake of a hurricane. I know that by my service on the homefront, cleaning dishes and making dinner and making sure that the bills are paid on time, it makes it easier to ensure that the big picture of seeing that the carrier can run. We are all connected and the whole Navy working together is what makes us the greatest service in the entire Nation, in my option.

'via Blog this'