Comment

Comment by Butterball on November 15, 2017 at 7:27am

Allison, I love the "Fake Thanksgiving" idea, I am definitely going to send one to my son, and then the real one when he is home at Christmas. Thank you, Love it.

Comment by sambam32 on November 14, 2017 at 10:05pm

patriotmama67.... I was asking a similar question. I deactivated my Facebook account about a year ago and I'd rather not activated again if possible so I'm hoping that everything I need to know is on this site, which I feel pretty confident it is.

Comment by Allison on November 14, 2017 at 9:04pm

I wasn't implying he HAD to use a backpack, just if you bring items, that gives people an idea of space for bringing it back to the barracks. Yes. A sailor can walk in with grocery bags that they can toss or recycle. You could also mail it later, and they can recycle the box. They could carry it in in their arms if they wanted, as long as their right is free to salute. I find it's better to just tell people about the backpack because it helps create a concept of space when people pack items from home, and prioritize like what needs to go, what could we just buy there, what could be mailed, and what just needs to be put into storage, and it helps families realize, like don't pack a bag for your sailor, they'll have nowhere to keep it, bring only what's necessary/what you have a little extra room in YOUR bag for,or what's really expensive to replace and figure the rest out later. That's why I always say the backpack thing when I talk about items, it's just a concept. Also, another thing to consider is that when your sailor moves barracks or leaves, he's not going to be carrying grocery bags or boxes or extra bags, they're really supposed to be able to move everything, in one trip, in their sea bag and backpack, and the uniform issue takes up 90% of the sea bag. Of course, I helped move my husband's friends who had a lot more than that, but when it came time for them to ship out to their next duty station, anything extra had to be sold, donated, mailed home, or thrown out. So again, I really emphasize this backpack idea because that's really all they get in the long run…until they qualify for live ashore either with their families or by high enough rank for their specific command.

Target is about 15 minutes away, Walmart is 20-30 depending on traffic. There's a student NEX that can be walked to and a NEX off base in the housing, this is not included in the "off limits" areas of base, even though it is in housing,or at least it wasn't a year ago, always good to double check, but that NEX in the housing neighborhood has much more variety because it's for all the accompanied sailors (those with families). Hawthorn Mall is about 30min away, that's where you'll find the big Macy's, but not much beyond that…but one of my husband and my favorite lunch/dinner spots is across the street, Calzones and Macaroni, it's delicious for something so simple haha! There's another mall, Gurnee Mills, and that has a lot of stores, usually very busy on weekends, and there's actually a shuttle, so anyone looking for small stocking stuffer ideas for your sailors, look up Gurnee Mills mall and they'll have access to any of those stores with the shuttle. They also have one of those movie theaters there that has the whole interactive thing…like where it'll spray you and the seats move and stuff. A cool experience, but I'll only do that once haha. There's small shops in libertyville and usually less people, there's a great Mexican place called casa Bonita, and they have a military discount. There's also this place called Wildberry's, you need to be willing to wait or get there early, but it is AMAZING breakfast. There's one in Chicago, but libertyville is much closer to base. There's a place I know I'm forgetting for shopping…in sure it'll come back later.

Comment by Phoenixmom on November 14, 2017 at 7:54pm

The sports store for tennis shoes gives 20 per cent also Verizon wireless gives discounts also

Comment by Anti M on November 14, 2017 at 7:51pm

I looked up the stores at Gurnee Mills mall.  I know which stores here give a military discount, they probably do there too.  Always ask.  Hot Topic, Spencer's, and Maurices do.

http://www.simon.com/mall/gurnee-mills

Comment by Anti M on November 14, 2017 at 7:48pm

My feet were always cold in the barracks, slippers or slipper socks might be a good idea.  

Comment by Phoenixmom on November 14, 2017 at 7:44pm

Carey that is exactly what we did, after PIR we went to eat then sat. We went to Gurnee Mall and he bought new tennis shoes and books the book store there gives them 15 to 20 per cent off, then we went to target and he picked up toiletries blanket ect. And by the way he didn't have to put the stuff in his back pack he took the bags from target and from the mall and it was ok. they just looked in the bag and gave the ok, he even took pizza back in a plastic container.

Comment by Carey on November 14, 2017 at 7:16pm

Hi, dtown, you can bring those things with you, but, if you're flying, it might take up valuable luggage space. We were surprised to learn right before his graduation that we would be able to take our sailor with us for liberty on Saturday and Sunday as well as after the ceremony on Friday because he was staying at Great Lakes for A school. We took him shopping at Target for a few things (undies, he really wanted new undies). That'd be the perfect place to pick up some baby wipes and scotch guard. I got him a tide pen, too.

Comment by Ima on November 14, 2017 at 5:28pm

Allison,

I love the idea of sending something for cereal...I was thinking of getting those individual serving size cereal boxes!!! I will definitely include them in my Thanksgiving care package. I also thought about including apple cider packets, and mini apple or pumpkin pies (if I can find some that will last and travel well)...I think I need to give up on the eggnog idea even though it is one of our Thanksgiving traditions!!!

Comment by Allison on November 14, 2017 at 4:50pm

So dtown, remember that whatever you bring, plan for it to fit in like the standard black jansport backpack…that's basically how big their navy issued backpack is, and he won't have room for a lot of stuff, especially if he has to worry stowing about a whole other bag, or you can mail it after PIR weekend, or you could buy these things when you get there.

-New underwear, color doesn't matter as long as it is not visible through the uniform, remind males to keep a set of their tighty whities or also buy white underwear for dress whites.

-Shirt stays, they'll help keep his sheets tight and he can make his rack faster.

-Lint rollers, they work much better than a vacuum for getting crumbs, fuzzies, or whatever out of the carpet, dust actually sticks to it from the surfaces of the desk/window sill, it gets fuzzies off the bed, and it'll make cleaning before an inspection go much faster…I feel because there's a lot of moms I should mention they do have "field day" once a week where they HAVE to clean the barracks with actual cleaning supplies, the lint roller is just for in between and inspections, they are staying clean at Great Lakes.

-baby wipes for getting salt off their shoes

-they'll probably want new toiletries, you can shop around at the NEX, but if you have a sailor that has any specific care routines or needs, the selection is pretty small at the student NEX.

-a cheap cereal bowl, and a cheap knife/fork/spoon, they can't cook beyond a microwave in the barracks, and they can get 3 meals at the galley, even if they're night students, this is just for the emergency 3am soup, morning cereal, whatever.

-a new blanket, especially if your sailor is tall, the blankets issued are awful, I mean really awful, short, torn, scratchy, odd smell no matter how much it's washed. I'd recommend getting this when you get there or sending money for it if you want to get one.

-Black crew socks, with no logos (like a Nike swish on the ankle), the black uniform issue socks are awful, I couldn't keep my husband in them for longer than a month. He personally likes the Hanes, and those are easy to find anywhere.

-if your sailor already has nice running shoes at home, bring those, or let them pick out a new pair. The ones issued are not very nice, especially if you have really small or really big feet. No obnoxious colors, no plastic track shoes or metal cleats.

-ONE set of civilian clothes max, they don't have a lot of space, and they won't even be able to wear them for the first like month or so. Most important would be if your sailor already has a nice jacket or fleece or winter boots because those are expensive to replace, anything else could be bought at a good discount at the NEX and target and Walmart are also close by.

I know I have more, but that's what I can think of right now, and that's all I have time for.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 108
• 109
• 110
• 111
• 112
• …
• 1011
• Next ›
• Page