A Cuppa Kim: america

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Care for the 23

Hello Friends!

In honor of the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday,

I have a special military themed guest post here today, from my sister-in-law-in-law, Heather.

(This means, her brother is married to my sister).

She's doing something awesome, and I'm gonna just let her explain it all to you...

Take it away, Heather!

Hello friends of CuppaKim!

Heather here. Somehow related to CuppaKim, but no one is quite sure if Sister In-law-In-law is a legitimate designation.

And this is my husband Dave!

Here’s a better picture of him:

Dave, (the CuppaKim Family may or may not call him LoveyLips), is in the Army and is currently serving in Kabul, Afghanistan with 22 other men and women.

This is 21 out of the 23, just before they left. Dave’s the one hiding from the sun on the far right.

These 23 soldiers are in a finance unit, and so most of them work in an office where they help other soldiers and locals get money when they need it and some travel through Afghanistan on missions, delivering money to soldiers and staff on other bases. A pretty interesting job!

Heading out on a mission!

When they’re out on missions they get to see some really unique things, like this beautiful street art, and this man selling…hawks!

Life as a deployed soldier is pretty difficult, because they’re away from their families, their beds, their pets, their normal clothing…but it has its perks, like the occasional lobster and steak night!

Now I know you are proactive people, what with your yearly mug swap and your support of the people in Sudan, and I will once again call upon that proactive nature!

I've put together a website in order to serve all the soldiers in this unit. It is my desire that we would show them that they are loved and missed by sending them care packages and praying for them!

Visit careforthe23.com to see how you brighten a soldier’s day by sending, giving, and praying!

Thank you all for having me!

Feel free to follow our crazy deployment journey on Instagram @instaolson

Kim again!
Heather, Dave, and the rest of the 23 would LOVE your support! Care for the 23 is an awesome project that involves sending happy mail and love across the globe to those serving in the armed forces.
We'd love it if you headed over there and bless some of them!

Heather, thanks for sharing. And please sign me up for any single, hunky, 30-something, over 5'8" tall dudes you have on your list.
(Not that I'm being picky).

God Bless the US!

Sunday, July 8, 2012

God Bless the US: Every Heart Beats True to the Red, White, & Blue

It's here.

God Bless the US!!!!

Time to recap your fourth over here in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.

My sister and brother in law had vacation time last week.

They rented a two bedroom cabin half a block up from Lake Tahoe.

So I did what any normal sister would do.

Crashed their vacay partay.

I posted the above photo to Instagram informing my sister I was on my way, and instructing her to have dinner waiting, and then drove solo 4 1/2 hours up into the Sierras.

SOLO.

Scary.

But me, Ravigail & the SF Giants (losing, BOO) on the radio,
followed by an awesome playlist made it there.

No problemo.

I arrived to these two nerds.

But Gourmet Nerds.

My favorite kind.

Steaks on the grill.

Guac and Chips on the patio.

Off to a good start.

And then there was a bit of a grease fire.

While I continued instagramming the above picture, my sister panicked and ran for water.

~~Distractedly~~ Calmly I informed her water was not for grease fires.

I also instructed them to pull the grill away from the wall.

But not under the umbrella.

And we closed the lid on the barbecue for a bit.

Saving lives.

It's just what I do.

The house had a hot tub in the back yard, and backed up to a golf course.

There was a lot of ducking each time I heard "FOURRRRR"

After a fair amount of hot tubbing, there were some fireworks down at the lake.
We caught a few through the trees.

And caught what quite possibly might knock Love Actually, The Holiday, and Home Alone out of the running for my favorite holiday movie.

Independence Day.

Will Smith.

Dreadlocked Aliens.

I mean.

Best. Movie. Ever.

And pizookie.

As my sister said... "It's for Amurrrica"

We rested up, because in the morning, it was time to Party in the USA.

I woke up early, and enjoyed some patriotic coffee by the dawn's early light.

And then, back inside to do Betsy Ross proud.

Flag Fruit Skewers.

Sub bananas for marshmallows.

WINNING AMERICA with that one.

Patriotic fruit skewers pair well with pancakes and nutella.

And sliced bananas.

I mean, Jack Johnson WAS onto something with his song.

Just keep them off my skewers and fruit salads.

And then it was off to do ACTIVITIES.

As my sister requested.

~~Sea~~ Lake Kayaking.

Sadly, it hurts my soul when iPhones go along for water activities, so mine had to stay at home.

You'll just have to take my word on it.

2 hours of beasting through Tahoe.

MyFitnessPal was happy.

MyFitnessPal was not super happy about the double hot dog.

But hot damn, hot dogs taste SO good on the 4th of July.

The afternoon was a return to the lake.

For some sun.

And a lot of Floatopia.

Other beachgoers were definitely feeling the Spirit of America.

And decorated their spaces accordingly.

We wrapped up our 4th festivities back at home.

Among the trees.

And in the hot tub.

I am proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free to use a flag towel.

More hot dogs.

Lot's of hot dogs.

Hot dogs, hot dogs, hot dogs.

I forget how much I love 4th of July.

I will never forget.

We spent our next morning taking in the views

from Sea to Shining Sea.

Or something like that.

A little lakeside coffee.

Sun umbrella.

Light reading.

And patriotic parasailers.

It would not be a lie to say I REALLLLLLY wanted to go up in that thing.

A quick two and a half days of America the Beautiful.

Purple mountains, majesty.

It was a good time.

So happy 236th, America.

You don't look a day over 235.

I need to know how you Let Freedom Ring.
Link up below with me and Katygirl

God Bless America

My home, sweet home.

God Bless America

My home, sweet home.

Be sure to grab our button here,
(so people can find and join the party!)
and link up below!
Be sure to stop over and see how your fellow Americans stayed true to the Red, White & Blue.