Cover Image by: viktor?
Banner by: S1LAS
DPA (Oversee)
Hello! I’m kimmy (sometimes due to auto-correct, I became jimmy). It’s the Holiday season so I will name 3 things I’m grateful for – 1. OPAlings + lovely command team, 2. Have adult money to buy skincares ✨, 3. Being loved by loved ones.
A little bit about myself, I work a 9-6 job as a graphic designer. On days that I WFH, I’m actually on Habbo but let’s not say anything. I’m quite a chill person in real life, I enjoy sitting around and looking at citylights, having a drink and a snack while chit chatting, love steaks (!!). I have a big thing about pretty lights, so you can expect me going woaaahhhh over all the Christmas lights going on right now.
OPA does more than just hosting events, so if you’d like to know more about the office reach out to me! I also think you would look good in a golden cap 😊
Skya (Team Leader)
Hii all! I am Skya, also known as Skye! Since Kimmy did 3 things she is grateful for I will as well (I don’t copy, I am just smart). 3 things I am grateful for are, my family, OPAlings as well, and Kimmy’s credit card, just joking… maybe.
In my free time I enjoy watching youtube videos about stardew valley or food, filling in colouring books and listening to music or online shopping! I am a massive introvert and rather be on my macbook doing something then being out, however, I do love going to concerts to see my favourite bands, some concerts I’ve seen this year are, P!nk, Dean Lewis and Chase Atlantic (fun fact, 30 minutes after I got off work a friend called me and asked if I wanted to go to Chase Atlantic that night for free, how could I not accept?).
That’s all from me, I hope you enjoy this month’s lib.
JOIN OPA! 😡
Frontdoor (Assistant Team Leader)
Greetings everyone and Happy Holidays! I’m Marq otherwise known as CWO4 Frontdoor. I’ve head the pleasure to serve as Assistant Project Lead for this months project and it’s been amazing! I’m currently the Director for the Marines Events Division as well. Apart from that, I’m from the United States currently attending university to pursue my degree in Organizational Excellence and Criminal Justice while working as a Correctional Officer. In my free time I enjoy playing sports games on my PS5 such as Madden, NCAA or 2K. Happy holidays!
JOIN OPA! 😡
Banner by: S1LAS | Article by: Frontdoor
Maj Draconis27
What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?
Eating baked ham and ice cold eggnog on Christmas day
What’s your earliest Christmas memory?
Receiving a NES for Christmas when I was 4 and playing it all day
If you had to travel for the holidays, where would you want to go?
I would like to experience a white Christmas just once so somewhere pretty with the snow.
BrigGen PeUS
What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?
Christmas Movies!
What’s your earliest Christmas memory?
Likely when we woke up and Santa had came and we had all gathered around the tree and woke my grandpa up so we could open the gifts
If you had to travel for the holidays, where would you want to go?
I would love to go to see the big tree in NYC, but honestly anywhere up north where it snows
LtCol Wierzbowski
What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?
Christmas has changed a lot for me over the past couple years. Every Christmas my family would go to my aunts place and have lunch with all the cousins and that was always my favourite. But now that we’re all older, things have changed. I lived overseas for 6 years so did Christmas with friends rather than family and other things like nieces and nephews have changed things.
What’s your earliest Christmas memory?
Probably when my cousins dared me to steal bottle caps out of my Aunts fridge off all the bottles and getting in trouble by my mum because I spilt drinks everywhere 😂
If you had to travel for the holidays, where would you want to go?
London. I lived there for 6 years and no one quite does Christmas like London does. I miss it but being with my family is so much better!
Banner by: S1LAS | Article by: q-thunder-q
✨ Entree: Jolly Cranberry Brie Bites
A bite-sized holiday miracle that’ll have your guests jingling all the way!
🎅 Ingredients:
- 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
- 1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 small wheel of brie cheese
- Fresh rosemary sprigs (for garnish)
- Crushed pecans (optional, for crunch)
🎄 Instructions:
- Preheat your sleigh (a.k.a. oven) to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll out your puff pastry on a floured surface and cut it into 12 even squares.
- Tuck each square into a mini muffin tin to form little pastry cups—like tiny presents!
- Slice the brie into small chunks, placing one in each pastry cup.
- Add a dollop of cranberry sauce on top. Feeling extra festive? Sprinkle with crushed pecans for a delightful crunch.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the pastry is golden and the brie is melted and oozy.
- Remove from the oven and top each with a sprig of rosemary for a festive finishing touch.
🎁 Main Course: Festive Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb
This show-stopping centerpiece will have everyone gathering around the table with wide-eyed wonder!
🎅 Ingredients:
- 1 rack of lamb (8 ribs)
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard (Santa’s secret weapon)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko works best for crunch)
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
🎄 Instructions:
- Preheat your festive oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Season the lamb generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the lamb for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. This locks in those juicy flavors!
- In a mixing bowl, combine breadcrumbs, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and a drizzle of olive oil. Mix until everything is well coated and aromatic—like a winter herb garden!
- Slather the lamb with Dijon mustard, making sure to cover every nook and cranny. Now press the breadcrumb mixture onto the lamb, forming a magical crust.
- Place the rack on a baking tray and roast for 20-25 minutes for a beautiful medium-rare (adjust for your preference).
- Let the lamb rest for 5 minutes under some tinfoil—it needs a little holiday nap before carving!
Serving Suggestion: Present alongside roasted garlic mashed potatoes and honey-glazed carrots. Sprinkle some fresh pomegranate seeds for a pop of color and sweetness!
🍮 Dessert: Traditional Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce
(The grand finale—a rich, fruity pudding that’s the ultimate Christmas indulgence!)
🎅 Ingredients:
For the Pudding:
- 1 cup mixed dried fruits (raisins, sultanas, currants)
- ½ cup chopped dried figs or dates
- ½ cup brandy (or orange juice for a non-alcoholic version)
- 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
- ½ cup suet or unsalted butter, grated
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1 apple, grated
- Zest of 1 orange
For the Brandy Sauce:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 3 tbsp brandy
🎄 Instructions:
For the Pudding:
- Soak the fruits: In a large bowl, mix dried fruits with brandy (or juice). Cover and let soak overnight, or at least 2 hours.
- Mix the batter: Add breadcrumbs, suet, sugar, eggs, spices, grated apple, and orange zest to the soaked fruits. Stir until combined.
- Steam the pudding: Grease a pudding basin and pour in the mixture. Cover with a layer of parchment paper and foil, tying it securely with string. Place in a large pot, filled halfway with water. Steam on low heat for 4-5 hours, checking water levels occasionally.
- Let it rest: Once done, let the pudding cool slightly. It can be stored for days or even weeks to deepen the flavor!
For the Brandy Sauce:
- Heat butter and sugar in a saucepan until melted.
- Stir in cream and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Add brandy and cook for another minute.
Serving: Warm the pudding, drizzle with brandy sauce, and if you’re feeling theatrical, pour a little extra brandy over the pudding and light it up for a classic flaming finish!
🎉 Let your Christmas meal end with a bang—pudding and flames alike! Your guests will leave full of festive cheer and delicious memories. Merry Christmas! 🎄✨
Reference: https://www.thespruceeats.com/christmas-brandy-sauce-recipe-434913, https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/rack-of-lamb-with-garlic-and-herbs-1222178,
Banner by: S1LAS | Article by: WahankeTheGreat
Greetings fellow USDFians! I am CW5 WahankeTheGreat, full time OPA member and part time diviner of the unknown. I implore you to give me a second of your time to predict your future. As I gaze into my crystal ball and look past the veil and beyond the fusion of all horizons, I see days filled with…screaming. I am screaming, you are screaming, in fact we are ALL screaming for…ice cream.
Based upon my metaphysical contact with the transcendental idealists backed by their utilitarian calculus of the categorical imperatives before me, I have found your most compatible flavor of ice cream based on your astrological sign. Allow me to present your ice cream horoscope:
Flavor: Candy Cane
First up is the noble Aries. Our brave and daring Aries out there will likely be one of the few to go to the store, open up the freezer and pick out a limited edition holiday flavor. Out of all of them, one cannot imagine the bold Aries leaving with anything other than Candy Cane. The sickly sweet peppermint ice cream chock full of red dye 40 is an Aries’ seasonal delight. It is the holiday season after all, so if you see a fellow Aries out shopping do not be surprised to see other holiday seasonal favorites and limited edition holiday flavors in their shopping cart as well.
Flavor: Vanilla Bean
One might ask why Taurus and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream go together, and the answer is simple: A Taurus loves consistency and safety, but also the finer things in life. Normally vanilla ice cream would do the trick for those looking for something unchanging and tried and true. Not our Taurus USDF members, however. Vanilla Bean is a step above vanilla, bringing in true artisanal tones and quality to a beloved classic ice cream flavor. So to our Taurus, cuddle up by the fire this winter and dig into that bowl of delicious Vanilla Bean. You’ve earned it.
Flavor: Neapolitan
Gemini’s symbol is also known as the Twins because they are represented by twin brothers from the Greco-Roman mythologies. Because of this, our Gemini’s are energetic and full of passion and willingness to take on anything. This, however, can lead to some indecisiveness at moments of choice. The ice cream aisle is full of choices, so which does the gemini make? The answer is Neapolitan: Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry ice cream divided into 3 equal parts to be scooped out as one desires. All 3 classic flavors are available to a Gemini no matter their mood so they can make an even harder decision: which flavor to finish first?
Flavor: Cookie Dough
Those under the sign of Cancer are often very in-touch with their emotions and have a nurturing side to them. Great for being a caregiver or good friend, this sometimes means that a Cancer sign might be emotionally drained or very emotional. The ice cream that can best help manage emotions and make someone feel better, especially around the holiday season: is cookie dough. Much like the Taurus who cuddles up with vanilla bean, a Cancer sign will find their cookie dough and begin to devour it while watching their favorite telenovelas, dramas or romantic comedy movies. Self-care is an important part of any ice cream choice, and cookie dough is one of the best for our emotionally in-touch Cancer’s.
Flavor: Strawberry
Leo’s are known for their strong, confident and bold personalities that are the center of attention. They may sometimes come off as a tinge self-centered, but at their core they are good leaders. Fun fact, USDF itself is a Leo which explains why it is the leading military on Habbo. For leaders and those who dare to be visionaries who wear black turtlenecks and announce the newest products, there is no flavor more fitting for these Leo’s than strawberry ice cream. One of the legendary and mythical original four flavors, strawberry still remains a top ice cream choice that everybody must acknowledge and nobody can ignore. Unless you’re a Virgo, but hey, they are known perfectionists. Don’t let them get you down, Leader Leo’s. Carry on with your strawberry in hand!
Flavor: Rocky Road
Speaking of perfection, Virgos! You are not so much haters as you are critical analyzers, data driven people who know the numbers inside and out and pursue absolute knowledge. Loyalty runs deep in Virgos who are known to make their lists and check them twice (much like a certain holy jolly gift giving fellow we all know and love). For those who want perfection, the ice cream of choice is Rocky Road! The first flavor made that had a mixture of things other than just pure flavoring, marshmallows and nuts make chocolate ice cream oh so perfect in a way that Virgos can appreciate. Of course, if the mixture of mix-in’s to ice cream is not right, don’t be surprised to see some Rocky Road thrown out the window of a Virgo’s house. There is no room in any household for imperfect ice cream.
Flavor: Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl
Perfectly balanced, as all things should be. That is how Libra live their lives and prefer to do things: with equal judgement and fairness in hand. However, much like the Geminis, this leads to indecisiveness. But our fair and just Libras will not stand for Neapolitan and its frivolous 3 flavors, no! Just no. Strawberry in the mix is too much, leave it to the sassy Virgos and Geminis to enjoy. But without strawberry, where does that leave Neapolitan? Simple answer: chocolate vanilla swirl. For those who can’t make up their minds but want to be fair, why not give the two most famous and beloved flavors of ice cream a try at the same time. Thanos would be proud.
Flavor: Orange Creamsicle
Scorpios are a resourceful bunch who live an interesting life. Whatever a Scorpio wants, they will have it. Whatever a Scorpio needs, they will get it. There is no mountain too high or any river too wide for them to traverse in seeking whatever they put their sights to. Top that all off with determination, and you know that Undertale is more than likely their favorite game. But what about ice cream? The answer is orange creamsicle. If there was an ice cream flavor that Gollum from Lord of the Rings would covet as their precious, there is no other flavor more sweet and in need of protection than orange creamsicle. Kronos is a Scorpio too, you know. Other astrological signs, beware. Get between a Scorpio and their precious ice cream and face the undying wrath of an angry ice cream addicted god.
Flavor: Sherbet
Ah, Sagittarius the archer. A philosopher, a free-thinker and someone who embraces radical freedom and adventure. With that in mind, there is no ice cream better suited for a Sagittarius than sherbet. Is sherbert objectively the weirdest kind of ice cream? Is sherbet even an ice cream? These questions are best left to the Sagittarius and their designated debate partner to try and hash out. (If you find the words “designated debate partner” and “try and hash out” odd phrases, they are. A Saggitarius is currently holding me hostage until I agree with them (Send hel-…). The Saggitarius would gladly eat their ice cream in front of your face and argue until the end of time that it is ice cream, enjoying the look of despair upon your face when you must ultimately admit that it is despite the fact that it shouldn’t be. One must imagine the Sagittarius happy.
Flavor: Vanilla
Stubborn ambition. Two words that describe a Capricorn as well as their preferred flavor of ice cream: Vanilla. Subjectively the most popular flavor and one of the oldest flavors of ice cream as well, Vanilla represents the ice cream that every Capricorn would enjoy time after time. The discipline associated with a Capricorn is reflected in Vanilla’s unique flavor: balanced, timeless and to the point. There is no arguing with vanilla and in fact if you called a Capricorn vanilla because of their taste in ice cream, they would likely thank you because it was a compliment. Vanilla, after all, is the ancestral king of all ice cream flavors. Make sure next time to look up at the Capricorns, who sit stubbornly atop their houses made of vanilla ice cream lording over the rest of us ice cream plebeians, with the respect they deserve.
Flavor: Ice Cream Sandwich
It may be the dawning of the age of Aquarius, but you Aquarians already knew that because you are so forward thinking! From sitting in the front of the class to always having the answers that nobody else knows, you Aquarians always know how to make a difference. Their goal in life is to get a Nobel Peace Prize and to be on the front of Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Not because of the clout or the ego like a Leo, but simply because they want to change the world. Yet Aquarians are also unpredictable at times and stuck with their heads in the clouds. This means that for an Aquarian, there is no more fitting ice cream than an ice cream sandwich! Bold, innovative, and outside of the box and a choice that makes everybody scratch their head. Don’t listen to the haters, Aquarians! Even if your ice cream choice is off the beaten path, it is still delicious.
Flavor: Chocolate
Last but certainly not the least is Pisces. Oh Pisces, where do I begin? Intuitive, compassionate, artistic, caring…the list of selfless accolades can continue on and on. Everybody loves to talk to a Pisces as they have a good ear and will listen to your problems without sharing to others. Trust is one thing they have a lot of, but unfortunately that can be a Pisces downfall. For that reason alone, a Pisces flavor has got to be chocolate. Chocolate is good, chocolate cares for you, chocolate makes you feel at home. Too much chocolate, however, is a bad thing. Pisces must be careful with how much chocolate ice cream they consume, lest they want to turn into an Aries and only eat artisanal flavors all year round.
Banner by: Skya | Article by: WahankeTheGreat
Self-care for the Holidays
Ah! You just burned the holiday turkey, you have 3 hours before your family’s flight comes in and you have to pick them up, your little cousin just threw legos everywhere and Aunt Petunia in another one of her moods. You know the ones.
‘Tis the holiday season, and all throughout life, things are getting stressful because of family and being busy all the time! With the heightened stress of the Yuletide season, here are some some things to keep in mind or maybe try out to try and manage your stress and mood
Back to basics
First and foremost is to make sure that you are taking care of yourself. Are you getting enough sleep, eating regular meals, staying hydrated, following your normal grooming routines? Oftentimes when stress and anxiety are at their peaks, it can be easy to forget something that you normally do to take care of yourself. So make sure you are still doing your normal self-care routines to help yourself feel the best.
Give yourself a break:
Sometimes between holiday and familial obligations, it is hard to find time to do the stuff that you want to do. Make sure to give yourself ample time to recover from the stress of family outings by giving yourself time that is exclusively for your rest and recovery. This is the best time to catch up on your favorite shows or to play some Fortnite to finish your battle pass before the season is over! Whatever you need to do to take a break from the Holidays, make sure to do so!
Do something creative:
Tapping into your creative side can be an excellent way to relieve stress. Writing, drawing, painting, crafts and decorating (whether that be holiday cookies or just your house) are all ways to do something. Find a medium where you are free to express yourself in the way that best suits you and allow your creative juices to flow. Even if you feel like you are not the most creative or artistically inclined person in the world, do not let that discourage you! Even simple activities like doodling or freewriting are still creative in nature and can help you express yourself in a way that can be calming.
Ground yourself:
When things start to feel overwhelming, sometimes you can try to ground yourself in the moment to help yourself feel more centered and in control of the situation at hand. Taking a few deep breaths can often help clear the mind and help you focus on what you need to do next. One simple breathing technique to try is to breathe in deeply for 5 seconds, hold your breath for 5 seconds, and then to breathe out for 5 seconds. This helps to regulate your breathing and calm your central nervous system. Another technique for grounding yourself is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. To practice this, you simply say or think to yourself:
- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can touch
- 3 things you can hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste
If you are having a hard time smelling or tasting things (either because you’re sick or some other reason) it is also okay to imagine smelling or tasting something. It should have the same effect of helping you ground yourself in a way that can hopefully let you focus on what needs to be taken care of next.
Banner by: LivinWild63 | Article by: Melissa223
Interview answers for what they want for christmas!
Draconis27: food food food
Marcos: I’m grateful for anything!
Mohdnazri36: nice yummy burger
Darkprincess: My graduation of mentor program
Aiden404_1: the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 game. I’ve been so busy with university and would love to get back into gaming. But honestly, spending quality time with family and friends is the best gift for me!
Kahterine: a cute blender (or hermes birkins 25 ofc!)
Aqualuvsyou: an unlimited supply of eggnog & to meet Ed Sheeran
KimKim25: an aesthetically pleasing gym set
MINI CHRISTMAS COLORING ACTIVITY!
Feel free to screenshot and save the coloring images below, specially drawn by Aqualuvsyou
Alternatively, you may download the images above from imgur:
https://imgur.com/05gBHGt
https://imgur.com/tgdLuz8
Banner by: viktor?
OCS #089 Graduation Class: – Entry completed by viktor?
Room can be seen with Aqualuvsyou, Caliste and Solemnity. graduating the class earning their full commissioned ranks to O1. Event went well, everyone was patient as they were earning their rewards. Silentstormx, Rogerology and ShadowHorizon helped lead the event giving them their promotions and awarding them. At the end, lots of cheers happened and many congratulated. In HQ, Officers formed a tunnel to congratulate the new officers as they gave their speeches (not included) and more celebrations commenced.
JDT Christmas Showcase – Entry completed by Melissa223
JDT Christmas Showcase presented USDF with their known-to-be awarding performance for this Christmas! It marks a special return for some JDT members and a few performing for the first time! The show was truly a delight to sit back and cheer on. When entering the magical kingdom of Christmas, each personnel was given a present (oooo santa came early!) The hosts of JDT Showcase Lt Col Wierzbowski, CWO5 adoriest and CWO5 ,rom4n introduced us to a special competition twist… winners will be announced at end of this article!
The JDT performances: HDT Alpha (Santa and His Elves) CDR Ethereal: being leader and experienced driller, CWO5 Crazy_Retro as APL and guide. The veteran driller LCDR Science99, veteran driller CWO5 Disboard, new member WO1 Sweet_Love94
WDT (Nutcracker) Leaders and guide by CPT Hamyroww & CWO5 Aiden404-1 with CWO4 Revealed,, CWO3 Aderz, SgtMaj Shanna, CWO5 ,rom4n — WDT Bravo with 1st Lt BioNTech, SMA OMWGW, WO1 marcos65876, Maj ShadowHorizon
VDT (Rudolph and Red-Nosed Reindeers) Led by CW5 BeetleWings and CWO5 PrefireStar, CWO5 Yuusa, APL CWO5 BeetleWings, CWO5 BruinBlue, Lt Col Wierzbowski, PrefireStar as Santa
HDT Bravo (Chronicles of Narnia) The veteran drillers LCDR —Tech—Geek and CWO5 jpl8822, CW4 Clo3, CWO5 adoriest CO JDT, CDR Ethereal as PL and guide.
A round of applause to all performers! The audience were all a snowball of joy and with that there could only be one winner… WDT with Nutcracker! The audience was filled with celebrations and battle cries, a USDF Christmas Showcase like no other, as it was specially announced to be JDTs 20th showcase this year! The highest record of performances accomplished and a whopping 49 white belts achieved.
A big thank you to JDT Command; Marcos, Viljar, Aiden, Mars, Ryan and Asha – “None of this could have happened without you, you are the creative geniuses and the teachers behind our excellence” Leadership – “Lars, Liv and Char – rocks of JDT!!” Thank you everyone for all your hard working efforts, lack of sleep and the magical Christmas tree tile stage. A joyful warm up to bringing USDF together for ready for Christmas!
OMP Meeting (Countdown to Christmas with OMP – Entry completed by -Rodrigo00
The meeting turned out well and everyone enjoyed their time. The atmosphere was fun and light hearted. They talked about some things concerning OMP, acknowledged some outstanding members, and hosted an awards night where they let personnel vote for each category. Then, after that they hosted a balloon game and a best dressed competition, where they gave credits to the winner of each respective category. It was a lot of fun and it was the HNCOs first time hosting a meeting within OMP.
Christmas with HabboDefense – Entry completed by Aqualuvsyou
Recently, Habbo Defense hosted their ‘Christmas with Habbo Defense’ event! Without a doubt, this event was beyond a success, bringing a lot of excitement to the newly public fansite in the habbo community. The event was auto step, paired by a 24 hour radio marathon making the perfect attraction. Population was high almost the entire duration and many memories were made. This is just one of the amazing events the Habbo Defense team put together and makes us excited for the next. If you have not already, Habbo Defense has recently opened their discord server to the public so be sure to join to not miss out on more amazing opportunities!
Brought to you by OPA!