TGIFF

Let's all take one big sigh of relief because it's Friday, FORT FRYDAY to be exact!  The long week has come to an end, the weekend is almost here and Peas of Mind's Veggie Wedgies are now in military commissaries; there's just so much to be happy about!  

This week we're celebrating Jessica Pomponio, a mother, wife and hometown hero living in Washington state.  Thank you for all your hard work Jessica, today is your day!  

More from this week's hometown hero, Jessica:

What branch of the military is your spouse in?
"My husband is currently a captain in the United States Army."

How long have you been a military wife?

"I have been a military wife since May but involved in the military since August 9, 2010.

Do you have kids?  

"We have one child, a daughter who is one. She was born in February."

Do you or have you lived on base? Which one?

"We currently live on base. We live in the town center on Fort Lewis."

What is the best thing about base life?
"The best thing about base life would have to be living so close to my husband's work which allows him to come home for lunch. Is the highlight of my day."

What is your favorite food to prepare for your family?

"My favorite food to prepare for my family would be pasta. My daughter just loves pasta."

You are on a deserted island and can only bring one thing...Go!

"I  would have to bring a blanket. Can be used for so many different things such as shelter and can keep you warm.

Is Military wife life what you thought it would be?

"No, I never thought much about military life. I grew up in southern California and the army isn't something you see everyday. So when my husband warned me about the life i didn't think much about it. It has its downsides but also makes you appreciate life."

Fort Fryday's : Celebrating our Hero's at Home!

A huge accomplishment of ours this year was shipping our products into the Military Commissaries! Commissaries are similar to grocery stores accept they are located on military bases all over the world. They stock similar items available in the US regardless where they are stationed, so a service member in the Middle East is able to purchase foods he would buy at home, like burgers and buns!

We started shipping our veggie French fries into the commissaries a few months ago and to celebrate this exciting accomplishment we created Fort Fryday's designed to honor the mom or dad who takes care of the household while their spouse is/was away. We call these strong amazing people, our Hometown Hero's!

Here is our next Hometown Hero and her story:

Name: Amy Cruder
Affiliated Base: Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach

-Amy, what branch of the military is your spouse ? "My husband is in the Navy for almost 10 years now and he was just promoted to 1st class. The kids and I are so proud of him." 

-How long have you been a military wife? "We were married a couple of months after my husband joined in July of 2003 and are currently on our 3rd deployment which is also the hardest because the kids are now old enough to realize daddy is gone." 

-How many kids do you have? "Hunter, our son, is 5 and Arelyn, our daughter is 3."

-Do you or have you lived on base? "As a Navy family we have never lived on base but instead bought a house in Virginia Beach which is a strong military Community with ties to all branches of the military and NASA."

-Tell us, what is the best thing about miliary life? "What I like about living here is the relationships you forge with other military families.  I have friends all around the world because we met here and hope our travels will bring us back together one day."

-Since we are a food company we must ask, what is your favorite food to prepare for your family? "My favorite food to prepare for my family has always been spaghetti because I buy veggie packed noodles and the sauce we buy has 1 1/2 servings of veggies per serving so I am able to get a good amount of vegetables into my family without them being any the wiser, although my kids would probably pick your cauliflower fries over the spaghetti.  In reality, anything that is healthy and natural that my family will happily eat is enough to make me happy which is why I was ecstatic to be directed to your amazing options by another military wife and friend, Jodi Martin."

-Ok, so you are on a deserted island and can only bring one thing...Go! "If I was on a desserted island and could only take one thing?  Oh my that is a tough one.  In hopes that the desserted island would be full of vegetation I would have to take a fully loaded tool box so I could build myself a raft to get home to my family.  Is that cheating?  I would love to say my family but I would hope that fate would never befall them."

-Is Military wife life what you thought it would be? "I am an Army brat so I was prepared for some of the challenges of being a Navy wife, however it is a little harder when it is your spouse leaving all of the time.  Sometimes you feel like a single parent and it's a hard feeling to deal with but then your husband calls and it makes all the hardship worth it to know that he is out there keeping us safe and free.  I would do it over again in a heartbeat.  I am proud of my Sailor and all he does for us."

Thank you, Amy, for sharing your story with us! Keep on pushing those veggies into your family and enjoy your Peas of Mind care package!

Fort Fryday's : Celebrating our Hero's at Home!

A huge accomplishment of ours this year was shipping our products into the Military Commissaries! Commissaries are similar to grocery stores accept they are located on military bases all over the world. They stock similar items available in the US regardless where they are stationed, so a service member in the Middle East is able to purchase foods he would buy at home, like burgers and buns!

We started shipping our veggie French fries into the commissaries a few months ago and to celebrate this exciting accomplishment we created Fort Fryday's designed to honor the mom or dad who takes care of the household while their spouse is/was away. We call these strong amazing people, our Hometown Hero's!

What better time of year to deploy Fort Fryday's than now, the time of year we give thanks!

Here is our first Hometown Hero and her story. 

Name: Ashley Lopez
Affiliated Base: Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington

-Ashley, what branch of the military is your spouse ?
"My husband, Miguel, is in the Army. He is a sergeant"

-How long have you been a military wife?
"I have been a military wife for about 6 years now"

-Do you or have you lived on base?
"We lived on base while we were at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. We lived on post for 2 and half years. My husband is currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state and we are living off post in our first home."

-Tell us, what is the best thing about base life?
"It is like a little city, everything that you need is right there, from everyday necessities to great friends."

-Since we are a food company we must ask, what is your favorite food to prepare for your family?

"My favorite food to prepare is meatloaf, because I love sneaking vegetables into my husband and son’s diet. I love hiding vegetable in all the meals I make."
Cool Ashley, it sounds like we have similar missions!

-Ok, so you are on a deserted island and can only bring one thing...Go!

"If I was in a deserted island I would want to have an ultimate survivor’s kit  because it would have everything I need for a little while . But when I asked my husband this question, he answered that he would want the portal gun (from the game “Portal”) and said that he would become the only survivor in history to become obese. He said he would portal a wild boar straight into a fire pit, then portal the food straight into his mouth. Yeah, my husband is a nerd."
We just laughed out loud after reading this!

-Is Military wife life what you thought it would be?
"I really didn’t know what to expect, everything happened so fast, from when my husband left for boot camp, then schooling and then 2 deployments, but I wouldn't change a thing, all the places I have been and seen because my husband joined, all the great people I met and those I will meet have been a great life altering experience."

Such a cool story Ashley! Sounds like you are open to whatever life throws your way and you handle it with such a great positive attitude! Thank you for sharing your story with us! Enjoy your Peas of Mind care package!