4/23 Fort Campbell Life by Creative ink

EASTER TRADITIONS

Holidays look a little different for everyone, and this upcoming holiday had us a little curious. We wanted to know "What are your Easter traditions?". It seems like everyone has a go-to routine that they do every Easter, and it can be very interesting to see how it changes from family to family.

“We plant an Easter garden. After church, we go home, change clothes, and we plant a garden as a family. It always feels very springy.”

-Lyla D

“We bake a big honey ham and have dinner as a family. My family brings sides, and we just have one big family feast.”

- Jill N

“I bake bunny-shaped cookies with my kids every Easter. They love to decorate them and make them all colorful.”

-Detra

“My family observes Lent. We all give up something for 40 days. Last year I gave up social media, and my children gave up candy.”

- Fiona D.

“We love to decorate Easter eggs as a family. We will do a competition and our Facebook friends will vote on their favorite one.”

- Hailee V

“When I was a kid, my parents would hide our Easter baskets and we would have to search in the yard to find them. I have kept this tradition going with my children. It is so much fun.”

-Darcy C

“Easter outfits are our go-to. We will all go out together as a family and get new outfits for church. They always match and color coordinate. It makes for some great pictures.”

- Kendra M

“Are we the only ones that will buy a kite and fly it? Not sure where it came from, but my family has done it for as long as I remember, so I do it with my kids too.”

-Nasha B

Are you looking for some fun Easter Egg designs to try with your kids this year?

Then we have your back. We have found 3 cool Easter Egg designing hacks that you can give a go this month. So grab those eggs and dye, it is go time.

Speckled Easter Eggs

Materials:

Food Coloring • Vinegar • Brown Sharpie

Directions

1. Use a a mixture of food coloring, vinegar and water. {1 teaspoon vinegar, 1⁄2 cup boiling water, desired amount of food coloring}. 2. Boil your eggs for around 15 minutes. 3. Drain and dry your eggs. Allow to cool. 4. Create the speckles with a brown Sharpie. 5. All done!

Tie Dye Easter Eggs

Materials:

Cheesecloth • Vinegar • Food Coloring • Twist Ties

Instructions:

1. Hard boil your eggs for 15 minutes. Allow eggs to cool. 2. Dampen a cheesecloth with vinegar. Wrap around each egg; gather edges and secure with a twist tie or string. 3. Holding tied end, squeeze drops of food coloring onto cheesecloth in a random pattern. 4. Unwrap carefully; place on a wire rack to dry. Refrigerate until serving.

Bunny Ear Easter Eggs

Materials:

Sharpie • Felt • Hot Glue

Instructions:

1. Hardboil your egg for 15 minutes. Allow to cool. 2. Draw face on your egg with sharpie. 3. Cut out a bunny ears design from your felt. 4. Hot glue the bunny ears onto your egg.

Are you wanting to spice up your deviled eggs this Easter?

Deviled Egg Chicks

12 large eggs, hard boiled and peeled • 1⁄3 cup mayonnaise

1 1⁄2 tsp dijon mustard • 1⁄4 tsp garlic powder

1⁄8 tsp salt, or to taste • 1 small carrot, peeled and sliced into rings

6 black olives

1. Peel 12 hard-boiled eggs. With a sharp knife, slice off a very thin layer from the base of the egg – this will give it a flat surface to stand on a platter. Cut off a generous top third of the egg. Squeeze around the egg base gently to loosen the yolk and it should pop right out. Keep the lids paired with their bases.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine 12 cooked yolks and mash well with a fork. Add 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 1/2 tsp dijon (or add to taste), 1/4 tsp garlic powder and 1/8 tsp salt, or season to taste. Mash everything together until smooth. Transfer mixture to ziploc or pastry bag and pipe generously into egg bases. Place top 1/3 back over the base and press down slightly to adhere.

3. For the eyes, poke through an olive with a plastic straw several times then gently squeeze down the straw and the little circles of olives will pop right out. For the beaks, thinly slice pieces of carrot. Insert 2 olive spots for eyes and a carrot wedge for the beak.

Loaded Deviled Eggs

12 large eggs • 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise

1⁄4 cup minced pickled jalapenos

2 teaspoons distilled vinegar

2 teaspoons yellow mustard

1⁄2 teaspoon smoked paprika

big pinch steak seasoning • 6 slices bacon chopped fresh chives

1. Boil your eggs for about 15 minutes.

2. Finely chop your cooked bacon.

3. Peel eggs then slice in half and pop yolks into a medium-sized bowl.

4. Add mayonnaise, minced jalapenos, vinegar, mustard, smoked paprika, and steak seasoning then mix and mash with a fork until smooth.

5. Scoop the mixture into a gallon-size Ziplock bag, cut off the corner, and pipe the mixture into the eggs.

6. Sprinkle each deviled egg with steak seasoning and smoked paprika, then top with crumbled bacon, a pickled jalapeno slice, and freshly chopped chives.

If you are tired of the classic deviled egg recipe, then you are going to want to give these two delicious recipes a try. Your guests and family will love the eggs that you bring to the table.

Springtime is beautiful, and all of the flowers are in bloom, but with that beauty comes sniffles and pain for a lot of allergy sufferers. It may seem like an endless battle, but you don't have to battle these allergies alone. There are a few things that you can try this spring to help you survive this allergy season.

• Eliminate some of your hair products. Did you know that using sticky hair care products can draw in more pollen since it naturally sticks to your hair and clothes?

• Get hydrated. Studies show that dehydration contributes to increased inflammatory reactions from our immune system.

• Try wiping down things such as windows, curtains, and blinds. Dust, pollen, and mold love to hide there.

• Try a saline rinse or any nasal spray once a day to help prevent sneezing.

• Keep your car windows closed and the air conditioner on. The wind in your hair feels amazing, but it won't when you start sneezing.

• Did you know that fruits, veggies, and even nuts – can help fight inflammation? It is exactly what you need for this time of year.

• It is time for two outfits a day. A quick change into clean, pollen-free clothes after being outside can make a huge difference.

Every military family has or knows a little warrior. Military children are tough, adaptable, and resilient. That is why they have an entire month dedicated to their greatness. Every April we celebrate the Month of the Military Child. This month-long celebration is a time to applaud the children for the sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome.

This year, Fort Campbell will be hosting fun events all month long to celebrate these amazing children. Be sure to add these to your calendar for April.

5k Color Run • April 1 • 8am • Shaw PFC

Families are encouraged to participate together in this free 5K / 1 Mile Fun Run in celebration of the Month of the Military Child. Participants are invited to wear white t-shirts for a colortastic party.

Color stations will be located every 1/4 mile for patrons' enjoyment. Stroller Friendly -- with color chalk awareness for participants. The run will begin and end in front of Shaw Physical Fitness Center.

Virtual Art Show • Now - April 14

Children of all ages are invited to participate. Participants submit electronic images of their personal artwork by emailing to arts.crafts.ftcampbell@gmail.com. Entries will be accepted from now thru April 14. On April 17, all entries will be posted on the MWR Facebook page at facebook.com/FortCampbellMWR.

Military Child Art Show • April 4 - 30

Customs House Museum & Cultural Center is honoring those who serve and their families with their first ever Month of the Military Child Art Show. Artwork will be featured in a museum-quality display, and there will be an open house on April 16th for the artists and their families which will be open to the public. K-12 age artists will be encouraged to submit their artworks for consideration. This art show and open house will be in partnership with the USO. April 16th will also be a dedicated free admission day for military families who present their military IDs.

The Month of the Military Child Art Show will be on view April 4th through the end of the month in Memory Lane on the Lower Floor of the museum.

Kidsfest • April 29 • 10am • Fryar Stadium

Join MWR for a Month of the Military Child KidsFest. They will have activities, themed displays, DJ Music, giveaways, characters, and more. You are welcome to come dressed in costume. Entrance and activities are free. Refreshments will be available for purchase. KidsFest will be held at Fryar Stadium.

Purple Up Day • April 19

All day

Show your support of Month of the Military Child by wearing purple. Purple Up t-shirts are available to purchase online from Fort Campbell MWR at www.campbell.armymwr.com until April 6th.

Looking for a way to get involved in your community and make a difference? Consider volunteering for the Fort Campbell Spouses' Club Board!

As a board member, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of our club and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around you. You’ll work alongside a group of dedicated volunteers who share your passion for giving back while building connections and friendships.

Plus, you'll have the chance to develop valuable skills and gain experience that will benefit you both personally and professionally.

Whether you're interested in event planning, fundraising, community outreach, or simply want to get more involved in the military spouse community, there's a role for you on the board.

So why wait? Join us today and start making a difference in the lives of military families.

To learn more about volunteering for the Fort Campbell Spouses Club Board, scan the QR code or visit us at www.fortcampbellspousesclub.org/board-application.

For more information about the FCSC, you can visit their website at https://www.fortcampbellspousesclub.org

Hilldale Kiwanis Half-K

Downtown Clarksville 9am raceentry.com/hilldale-kiwanishalf-k/race-information

The Fun Run for the Rest of Us! Join your fellow underachievers for a day of glory, celebration, and participation to raise money for Love On Wheels and Kiwanis Youth Service Leadership Programs. This will be a fun, tongue-in-cheek event that will lampoon the typical 5-k! Family event with music, entertainment, and vendors at finish at Downtown Commons.

Nashville Home Show

Music City Center Nashville nashvillespringhomeshow.com This expo will feature educational content, new home trends, home improvement solutions, and thousands of first-to-market products. Tickets are $12 and admission is free for ages 12 and under

Professional Bull Riding

Trigg County Recreation Complex Cadiz

nashvillelawnandgardenshow.com

This 2-day event features professional bull riders competing for top prize money. In addition there will be barrel racing and ranch bronc riding. Great fun for the whole family.

Family Formal

Wilma Rudolph Center

cityofclarksville.com/411/Family-Formal

The entire family can join in the fun at the all new Family Formal! We are updating our traditional Father - Daughter Date Night to include everyone in the family. Get dressed to impress and be ready to show off your moves on the dance floor! Admission is $15 for every guest and includes a meal with a kid approved menu, takeaways, door prize entry, dancing, and fun activities. Get ready to make some lasting memories together at the all new Family Formal.

Motown Memories

Alhambra Theatre Hopkinsville 7pm pennyroyalartscouncil.ticketspice.com/ thatmotownband

If you love artists like Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye, then you will LOVE

That Motown Band. This talented group of musicians has been entertaining Motown fans for years and is gracing the Alhambra Theatre stage with a soulful 10-piece band.

Watercolors with Leah Foote

Jeffers Bend Center Hopkinsville 10am

visithopkinsville.com

Highly

touted watercolor artist Leah will lead participants through the creating of watercolor paintings. Non-members pay $35 day of workshop.

East Nashville Beer Festival

East Park Nashville 12pm

nashvilleguru.com/15235/east-nashville-beer-festival

The annual East Nashville Beer Festival presented by M.L.Rose Craft Beer & Burgers from noon to 5pm at East Park. Attendees can expect dozens of local and regional craft breweries, food trucks, and live music. This event is 21 and over only. Tickets are $65 and $25 for designated drivers.

Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival

Public

Square Park Nashville

nashvillecherryblossomfestival.org

This festival is held every spring and is a family-friendly celebration of Japanese culture in Nashville. Admission is free. Festival Activities include: Cherry Blossom Walk, Japanese Music & Dance, Martial Arts Demonstrations, Japanese Food Trucks & Vendors Marketplace.

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Nashville Earth Day Festival

Centennial Park Nashville 11am

nashvilleearthday.org

Nashville Earth Day Festival will feature environmentally-friendly vendors, educational booths, workshops, speakers, live entertainment, activities for kids, and local food vendors. This festival is free admission, pet-friendly, family-friendly, and will take place rain or shine.

Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair

One C1ty Nashville

craftybastards.com

Crafty Bastards is a juried exhibition and sale of handmade goods from independent artists. At each of our fairs, come ready to shop for some unique, handcrafted items while you enjoy activities, entertainment, live music and food truck fare. This event is free to attend and welcomes kids, pets, and families of all ages.

St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Nashville

Downtown Nashville

runrocknroll.com/nashville

This is Nashville’s most popular running event of the year for all ages and skill levels. Participants can expect live bands and DJs on 20 stages throughout the course plus all-day jams at the finish line. There are five different races, including the full marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k, and 1-mile.

CAIN “Live and In Color” Spring Tour

Mosaic Church Clarksville 7pm

mymosaicchurch.us

Cain is a Christian country trio composed of Taylor, Madison, and Logan Cain. Cain were nominated for the We Love Christian Music Awards’ Best New Artist of the Year in 2021 and were nominated for and won the K-Love 2021 Fan Award for Breakout Single.

Open Air Job Fair

5662 Screaming Eagle Blvd Fort Campbell 10am eventbrite.com/e/open-air-job-fair-tickets568778029397

This event will have over 50 employers present including these industries represented: Government, Sales, Retail, Education, Information Technology, Healthcare, Financial Services, Management, Manufacturing, Construction, Customer Service as well as other career options.

Cadiz Little River Festival

West Cadiz Park

gocadiz.com

Live music, art and craft vendors, direct sales and info booths. Kids games and prizes. Food trucks. Save the date! Aren’t you ready to get out of the house?

It’s Spring Y’all

Trigg County Senior Citizen Center 8am runsignup.com/Race/KY/Cadiz/ItsSpringYall5K

The City of Cadiz will host a spring 5K run/walk. The racecourse will begin at the Trigg County Senior Citizen Center. Doors will open at 8am for bib and t-shirt pick-up. The race starts promptly at 9am. Registration closes on Sunday, April 9th. All proceeds will go to 7 Friends Memorial.

Nashville Wine & Food Festival

Omni Hotel Downtown Nashville

nashvillewineandfoodfestival.com

The annual Nashville Wine and Food Festival returns and guests can expect bites from top restaurants and chefs, opportunities to meet chefs and sommeliers, local and artisan vendors, workshops, educational seminars, and wine tastings. All guests must be 21 or over to attend.

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Amber Haze

1 ounce Bacardi Big Apple rum

1 dash grenadine

Soda water

Lime wheel

Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice. Pour in the apple rum first, then top it most of the rest of the way with the soda water. Pour the dash of grenadine on last. Garnish with a lime wheel and a straw for stirring in the grenadine.

Tokyo Iced Tea

1 ounce vodka

1 ounce gin

1 ounce rum

1 ounce tequila

2 ounces kiwi liqueur

1 teaspoon superfine sugar

7-Up

Pour all ingredients (except the 7-Up) into a chilled old-fashioned glass filled halfway with ice. Fill up the rest of the way with 7-up, stir gently so as not to bruise the alcohols, and garnish with a kiwi round.

Drink recipes and photos courtesy of mixthatdrink.com

Fresh Watermelon ‘Rita Drink

2 chunks of watermelon (each the size of your thumb)

2 ounces of silver tequila

1 ounce of fresh lime juice

1 ounce of simple syrup

Dash of Cointreau

Coarse sea salt (optional)

Use a shaker top to crush the watermelon in the bottom of a pint glass.

Fill the glass up with ice and add the rest of the ingredients. Shake vigorously for five to ten seconds.

Rim a pint or margarita glass with salt and fill it with ice. Strain the mixture into the glass and garnish with a small watermelon wedge.

Tequila Sunrise

4 ounces orange juice (fresh squeezed is preferred)

2 ounces white tequila

1⁄2 ounce grenadine

Put ice cubes into a highball glass. Pour in the tequila followed by the orange juice. Now slowly pour the grenadine straight down the middle, so it sinks to the bottom.

Optionally garnish with a citrus wedge or sliver of orange peel.

It is time for that dreaded spring cleaning, but we all know howhow nice it feels when everything is clean. We are used to cleaning our homes for our annual spring cleaning, but have you ever thought about cleaning your car?

A messy car can be stressful, so there is no better time to get it all neat and tidy than during your annual spring cleaning. Here are some great tips and tricks to get your car looking good as new again.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol has many car cleaning hacks. It can get off the sticky residue from stickers or food, as well as remove ink from upholstery, clean your glass, and deep clean those wiper blades.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a great deodorizer and stain remover. Just sprinkle it in your car if you have smells like dirty sports equipment or rotten food, and let it sit before vacuuming it up.

Got stains?

Combining baking soda with vinegar creates a powerful cleaning solution that removes various stains. Just spray and scrub away.

Pumice Stones

Got embedded pet hair that a vacuum won't touch? Pumice stones can help remove pet hair from carpets and upholstery. Scrub the pumice stone in one direction. Then, use the pumice stone in the opposite direction to clear away any remaining hair.

Ice Cubes

Got some gum stuck in the carpet? Grab an ice cube. Freezing the gum stiffens it so you can remove it in larger pieces.

Olive Oil

Keep your dashboard just like new with a little olive oil. Rubbing it into your dash will keep it looking shiny and fresh.

Toothpaste

Are your headlights looking a little foggy? Grab some toothpaste and smear it on thick. Then, scrub away that gross grime to reveal some fresh headlights.

If you are reading this, chances are you understand the struggles of being a military spouse. There are many things that come with being a military spouse and they are a lot more difficult than one might think. Thankfully, there are veteran spouses out there that are open to sharing tips and tricks on how to navigate this crazy life.

Hello everyone. In this month's installment of the struggles that military spouses face, I would like to touch base on the subject of moving. Whether it be PCSing or ETSing, both are incredibly challenging and come with their own set of issues.

In the 6 years that my husband was in the Army, we moved multiple times, and each time, a new lesson was learned. You see, when my husband and I got married, we were freshly 19 years old. Now at 27 years old, I can look back and truly say we were just babies. We originally lived in Georgia and South Carolina, but his first duty station was at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, TX. I felt like I was just a baby trying to navigate this new life. But, I was afraid to ask for help because I didn't want anyone else to see me as naive.

First mistake! Other spouses have been there, in the same situation, and are always willing to offer some advice.

In our story, we were having to find an apartment sight unseen like many military couples do. I remember pulling up to the new apartment after driving for over 24 hours straight. Not knowing anything about the area, getting lost a few times, and then trying to figure out if where we were living was even close to where my husband would be working. I remember the feeling of holding my breath as I turned the key to the new place because I was scared that I had just made a very expensive mistake.

Military life is a lot of unknowns, risks, and blind faith. I wish I could say that it was the only time we had to rent sight unseen, but that is not the case. Our next PCS, we were states away trying to look through Zillow for a home so we wouldn’t be homeless when we arrived. It is that race against the clock that is so daunting for so many families. No one enjoys the feeling of having nowhere to go, or fearing that you will be stuck in a hotel with your pets and kids for God knows how long. In the craziness of relocation, just the fact that you have a home to arrive at is the only comfort some of us have during a PCS.

Sadly, it puts many families in living situations that they do not want to be in. For example, like living in a scary neighborhood with a pack of stray cats under the house that made it infested with fleas...ask me how I know. The pictures truly don't show everything.

Looking back, I would have asked another military spouse in one of the Facebook groups online to go and check out the home. Many times they are more than happy to due to also accidentally renting less than quality places. Even though they are amazing, realtors can not legally comment on the safety of a neighborhood, so having an outside opinion is always amazing.

Moving constantly is tough, but use it as an opportunity to explore new houses and layouts, so that you know what you want in your forever home. For me, I learned that I must have a pantry, a laundry room that isn’t in the basement, and a nice big yard.

Give yourself some grace if you accidentally rent a home that is not that great. It happens to all of us. Make the best out of the situation, decorate it the best you can, and pack up and leave once your lease ends. After all, we all become moving specialists after we experience military life.

National pet month is April, and we wanted to use this opportunity to allow pet owners all over the FortCampbell area to show off their furry friends. Come say hi to these cute local loveable animals.

Earth day is April 22, are you ready for it? You may have heard of Earth Day before, but have you ever stopped and wondered what it truly is? It marks the anniversary of the creation of the modern environmental movement that began in 1970. It all started with an idea for a national day to focus on the environment. It was started by Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the effects of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans began holding massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. They rallied against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, the extinction of wildlife, and many more things.

Today, Earth Day is observed all over the world and is celebrated by more than a billion people every year. The day of action calls for a difference in human behavior and provokes policy changes.

Celebrators of the holiday are currently fighting for a clean environment with increasing urgency as the effects of climate change become more apparent every day.

If you are looking for small ways to contribute to Earth Day around the house, here are 3 great options to get you started.

Ditch the plastic bags

Each trip to the grocery store means piles and piles of plastic bags that wind up in the trashcan after you are done unpacking all of your groceries. Instead, use reusable totes that you bring from home. They are more steady as well, so you don't have to worry about ripped bags.

Say no to straws

Buying a reusable straw to toss into your purse can save hundreds of plastic straws from landing in the ocean or local landfill.

Drop the bottled waters

Bottled waters cause so much unneeded plastic to wind up in landfills. This month buy a water filter and use a refillable water bottle instead.

When the weather begins to warm up, we all naturally migrate outside. So it is expected that we also all want our yards to look bright, clean, and fresh. You do not have to be an expert to make your lawn look like it was visited by one. Give these little tips and tricks a try one weekend, and help breathe some life back into your lawn.

Vanish Weeds

Did you know that salt and vinegar can kill those pesky weeds? About a gallon of white vinegar mixed with roughly a cup of salt, plus a tablespoon of dish soap is the magic mixture. Put the liquid in a spray bottle, and spray away. Those weeds will be dead in no time.

Leave the Grass Clippings

If you are wanting to save some coin on mulch, be sure not to bag your grass clippings the next time you cut your lawn. Your cut grass can actually work as its own mulch and fertilizer.

Coffee to Clear Pests

Is your lawn riddled with creepy crawlers? Well did you know that you have your own natural pest control in your kitchen? Coffee grounds can keep lawn pests like ants, snails, and slugs away by sprinkling them throughout your lawn.

Epsom Salt for the Sparce Spots

Epsom salt contains a healthy amount of magnesium, which can aid in the growth of your grass. All you need to do is add two teaspoons of Epsom salts to one gallon of water each month using a spray bottle. It is as simple as that.

Avoid Over Cutting

Did you know that cutting your grass too short can actually cause it to turn dull and yellow? The general rule is to cut ⅓ of your grass, and never more. Trust us, your lawn will thank you.

Make That Furniture Shine

Get the plastic lawn chairs good as new by rubbing marks with a dab of white toothpaste. It will have those stains gone in no time.

Put in Solar Lights

Did you know that just adding a path of light can give your yard a much-needed facelift? Solar lights are cheap and easy to install, and you never have to worry about them once they are in the ground.

On social media this month, you may see many people change their profile picture to a puzzle ribbon. If you do not know its meaning, you may be curious about the message behind it. Well, the Puzzle Ribbon is the most recognized symbol of the autism community.

Over 25 years ago, the Autism Society started a nationwide effort to promote autism awareness. Their mission was inclusion and self-determination for all. It was their goal to make sure that each person with Autism is provided the opportunity to live the best life possible. The effort was so successful that April is now known as National Autism Awareness Month.

What is Autism you may ask? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a compound developmental disability. The signs for it typically appear during early childhood and affect many things. Those things include a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. ASD is described by certain behaviors and is known as a spectrum condition. That means autism affects people differently and to varying degrees. A few of the behaviors related to autism include delayed learning of language, problems making eye contact, having a hard time holding a conversation, difficulty with executive functioning, and poor motor skills as well as sensory sensitivities.

There is no known cause of autism, but increased awareness, early diagnosis, as well as appropriate support can lead to dramatically improved outcomes.

For more information and support visit: autismspeaks.org