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!

A Simple 4th.

Some years the 4th of July is an all out patriotic festival of fun. 

Some years it is a day of fun, friends, and the good old red, white, and blue.

This year, it was simple fabulousness. 

I woke up early and caught some gorgeous light while taking Mylie out. 

There's something about being up while the rest of the world sleeps in.

Keeping the morning slow with a taste of summer and a hot cup of coffee.

The rest of the morning was spent cleaning my house, for houseguests arriving the next day. 

Mylie supervised.

And once my house was cleaner than it has been in years (thank you for the motivation, visitors), Mylie and I donned our Americana and headed out. 

My Grandma has hosted an annual 4th of July rager for as long as I can remember. Most years I try to make an appearance with at least a friend or two in tow. 

This year was no exception. After we picked up a cone (for America, of course) we headed up to Grandma's.

When it comes to America, Grandma does not mess around. Her house is decked out. And so is she. Also, the apple does not fall far from the tree. 

Well, except for when it comes to technology I guess. Here are Gram's attempts at taking a pic of us girls...

Grandmas, you gotta love them.

Thankfully she managed one clear one.

 

We grabbed some festive and pool safe drinkware and headed outside for some poolside activities.

Which mostly involved a few jumps off the diving board and floating with drink in hand.

The day ended early with a few front yard s'mores(with patriotic star mallows), which were really just lightly roasted marshmallows as I forgot the sterno and we had to sub in a very ineffective votive.

I was home by dark and in bed before fireworks and even caught the sight of a few illegal ones out my window. 

A good way to enjoy a mellow holiday celebrating the freedoms we enjoy here in the good old US of A.

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.

<a border="0" href="http://www.acuppakim.com/search/label/god%20bless%20the%20us" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j472/CuppaKim/linky2-200.jpg" /></a>

Calling All Americans!!!

  

Hear ye! Hear ye!

Source: creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com via Kim on Pinterest

It's time to celebrate AMERICA.

Land of the Free.

Home of the Brave.

Coming this 4th of July,  
Katygirl and I are hosting a linky party 
for all of you blogging Yankee Doodle Dandies.

Join us with your celebratory posts!

Did you rock those cute American flag cutoff shorts? 

Betsy Ross would be so proud (I'm looking at you, Burns).

Did you make a cake shaped like the 48 continental states?

I want to know, did you agonize over including Hawaii and Alaska? Puerto Rico?

Did you visit the 13 original colonies? 

Can you name the 50 states? 

Can you explain the electoral college in 100 words or less?

Did your husband barbecue your back yard down and live to tell the tale?

Here are a few ideas I'd love to try myself...

I mean.

Spray paint.

Brown paper bags?

I could make this. 

Source: brownpaper--packages.com via Kim on Pinterest

Like, where do I even begin with this?

It would be a bit of a commitment for just one day.

And you'd need a lot of red books....

But how awesome would your house look with this?

I mean, I really love America. Having a bookshelf like this would prove that.

Source: nytimes.com via Kim on Pinterest

Red Vines.

Need I say more?

Okay, I will.

If someone made this for a party, I would not leave the food table.

Heck. That's where you'd find me anyway.

I'd just have red vine junk all up in my grill the whole time.

YUM.

Source: roomtoinspire.blogspot.com via Kim on Pinterest

Can you say FANCY?

FAHHHH-SEE.

Source: everythingetsy.com via Kim on Pinterest

This must happen.

Except.
Here's my deal. This is like a fruit salad on a stick?

And bananas do NOT belong in a fruit salad.

I need to make this. And sub out marshmallows for bananas.

Right?

Source: partycity.com via Kim on Pinterest

Head over to Katy's place to see some awesome Etsy Americana she is featuring today.

And here is my pinterest board which has a little more patriotic inspiration.

Channing Tatum might be on there. 

A true American gem.

We want to give you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the holiday and the weekend, so spread the word 

and link up here, 

or at Katygirl's Place on Monday, July 9th!

(Also, if you do PinterTest something, be sure to link up at Jessica's place for her monthly PinterTest kitchen - which will be up on 7/5 and is open all month)

It doesn't even have to be a craft, or a recipe, maybe all you did was take a nap. 

Just share with us how you celebrated America's Birthday!