• My son has been going to summer camp for years now, and is always away for his birthday. 
• It was hard the first time, but he was ready for this independence. 
• I get to see his birthday celebrations through the camp's app. 

Two years ago, I packed bags and bins full of clothing and toiletries, and my son left for his first summer at sleepaway camp. Three weeks later, he celebrated his 11th birthday with his new camp friends, away from home and without family.

At the end of his four-week camp session, when he told me camp was his favorite place on Earth, it sunk in that I'd never be with him on his birthday again. At first, I was heartbroken.

I love celebrating his birthday

I remember his first birthday like it was yesterday. Friends and family gathered in our home as we sang Happy Birthday and indulged in his first birthday cake. Not quite walking yet, I couldn't imagine how his birthdays would change in only a decade — how the toddler in my arms would become the teen driving a go-kart 150 miles away from home.

In the years following that first birthday, we threw many parties. From the bowling alley to the karate dojo to a magician's stage, we celebrated my son on his special day because that's what you do when children turn another year older. Often, he'd awaken to a room filled with balloons. But sometimes, traditions change.

As a mother, it was already hard to let go for the first time. I wanted him nearby so I could ensure he was happy, healthy, and safe. I worried he wouldn't brush his teeth, get sick, or like the food. Even worse, I was concerned he'd miss us during quiet nights as he lay awake in bed.

My son was ready for independence

As I packed his belongings, I remembered my own summers at sleepover camp, and I overwhelmingly recalled being homesick and wanting to go home. The day that stuck out most was my 13th birthday when I snuck to the payphone to call my parents. "Please come get me," I begged, even though I'd independently chosen to go back another summer. My own childhood emotions came rushing back, impeding me from sending my son off with ease.

But he was a different child altogether. He was ready.

My son heard about summer camp from the moment he could communicate. My husband went to the same camp himself and later worked there as a counselor. Stories of late-night firepits, hikes into the wilderness, and ziplining through the trees have been told in our home since my son could talk. My husband remains friends with some staff members, which gives my son a sense of community when he's away. Before he even arrived on day one, camp felt like a second home to him. No wonder he chooses to be away on his birthday each year.

I saw photos of his birthday on an app

That first summer away, I saw pictures from his birthday the following day on the Campanion app — the app where pictures of campers are uploaded daily. I waited anxiously, wanting to know if he'd had a special day because he'd never turn 11 again. It felt surreal to see pictures of my son's birthday celebration — one I didn't plan or attend myself. As pictures began to load, it felt like a piece of me was missing, but his smile made everything seem right.

From a birthday t-shirt to spinning the birthday wheel for a prize to birthday cake for his entire bunk, the day was equally as special as any birthday at home. As I scrolled through pictures, there was no doubt in my mind he was happy. He was celebrated by his counselors, friends, and the entire camp, and that made being away from him on his special day a little easier for me.

For him, it was the best birthday yet.

I've learned to accept that we can celebrate early. Last summer, we threw a surprise party in our yard with his closest friends the week before he left for camp. This summer, we'll celebrate with a sendoff dinner at his favorite restaurant with family.

With a little creative planning, I make his birthday special, even though I'm not there. Each summer, I pack a box with presents to be opened on his birthday and send a celebratory activity for his bunk. For his 11th birthday, they had a water gun fight that spanned across the entire camp and on his 12th birthday, they attended dinner with stick-on mustaches and festive hats. I have my work cut out for me, but I hope to make each camp birthday stand out from the last.

As a mother, it's my job to help my son thrive until he can do so on his own — and right now, that means letting him be away on his birthday every summer. Camp has given him independence, confidence, and friendships for a lifetime, and there's nowhere else he'd rather be on his birthday than his favorite place on Earth.

• Houthi footage appeared to show sea drones attacking a cargo ship.
• A Greek-owned coal carrier attacked by the militant group sank, a UK maritime agency said.
• A British-owned vessel sank earlier this year following another Houthi attack.

Footage released by Yemen's Houthi rebels appears to show the militant group attacking a cargo ship in the Red Sea with sea drones.

In the video, unmanned surface vehicles (USV) can be seen striking a large ship, causing it to tip slightly onto its side and sit low in the water.

Business Insider could not independently verify the video. However, the UK's Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) later reported that a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned coal carrier was believed to have sunk.

UKMTO is linked to the UK's Royal Navy.

The UKMTO said on Tuesday: "Military authorities report maritime debris and oil sighted in the last reported location."

"The vessel is believed to have sunk," it added.

The US Navy confirmed that the vessel had been attacked by Iranian-backed Houthis using a USV and that sailors from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group had airlifted the crew to safety on June 15.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that the attack on the cargo carrier killed "a crew member who hailed from the Philippines."

Following the attack, US Central Command announced that its forces had destroyed two Houthi USVs, one uncrewed aerial system launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, and seven Houthi radars.

"It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. This action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels," CENTCOM said in a statement posted to X.

The MV Tutor is the second ship that the Houthis have successfully sunk this year. The British-owned Rubymar sank in the Red Sea after it was struck by a missile fired by the group.

Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea corridor and the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones as part of a campaign that aims to put pressure on Israel and the West over the war in Gaza.

The attacks have forced shipping vessels to take longer and more costly routes around the southern tip of Africa.

Experts have said that the US Navy is facing its most intense combat since World War II as it battles the Houthi threat in the region.

"This is the most sustained combat that the US Navy has seen since World War II — easily, no question," Bryan Clark, a former Navy submariner and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told the Associated Press.

"We're sort of on the verge of the Houthis being able to mount the kinds of attacks that the US can't stop every time, and then we will start to see substantial damage," he added.

Between October 17 and the start of May, the Houthis attacked commercial vessels at least 53 times, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

• USS Constitution is the only remaining US Navy ship to have sunk an enemy warship in battle.
• It is also the oldest commissioned warship in the world that's still afloat, and it's full of history.
• Business Insider embarked on the 226-year-old frigate for a recent underway in the Boston Harbor.

With sea shanties blaring on the loudspeaker and onlookers taking pictures from the shore, USS Constitution slowly pulled away from the pier on a blistering hot day in mid-June.

This US Navy warship, at well over 200 years old, is not like the sea service's other ships, though. It is basically a floating museum, but with a bit of a twist. Unlike others, it hasn't been decommissioned.

The Constitution, known as America's Ship of State, needed a tugboat's assistance for the entirety of an hours-long underway in the Boston Harbor to honor women veterans of the US armed forces. When it sets sail, the tall ship moves slowly, escorted by police boats and the Coast Guard and helicopters circling overhead.

Aboard are hundreds of people — veterans, active-duty personnel, and their family members.

As the warship sailed the harbor, a 21-gun salute — blanks fired from two of the many heavy cannons — rang out, filling the lower deck with smoke that reeked of something like sulfur, an element of gunpowder. People cheered and filmed the celebratory occasion. The Constitution may be old, but it can still put on a show.

The heavy frigate was launched in 1797 shortly after President George Washington authorized the creation of a Navy. During the War of 1812, the Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" because British cannonballs seemingly could not penetrate the ship's wooden hull.

It is the oldest commissioned warship in the world that's still afloat, and after the much newer guided-missile frigate USS Simpson was decommissioned in 2015, Old Ironsides became the only remaining vessel in the Navy to have sunk an enemy warship in battle — a feat carried over from the War of 1812 against the British.

"Over her 226 years, she's seen a lot," Lt. Cdr. Robert Dreitz, the ship's executive officer, told Business Insider during the underway. "But she is currently, in our fleet, the only ship that has had actual ship-to-ship engagement. Everything else has been over-the-horizon."

A love for history

The Constitution was retired from active service in 1881 after a storied career, but naval officers and crew still serve aboard the ship — now a museum that occasionally sets sail — at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston.

Back in 1812, there were around 450 officers, sailors, and Marines aboard the Constitution. Today, it consists of three officers and around 80 enlisted Navy sailors — a mix of fleet returnees, meaning they've done previous tours, and individuals straight from boot camp.

Col. Taona Enriquez, a commander at nearby Hanscom Air Force Base, where some Constitution crewmembers live, said sailors come to work on the ship because of its historical significance.

"History is what we came from," Enriquez said. "Much like we stand on shoulders of our veterans before us, the new destroyers are standing on the shoulders of the USS Constitution."

The sailors tend to agree with this sentiment, but it's not easy to get here. Dreitz said it's "extremely competitive" for sailors to work on the Constitution. They have to apply, and then they're screened and later interviewed to make sure they're a good fit.

"I do very much so enjoy history, so I thought this would be a great place to continue to grow in my Navy career," said HM Andre Flamini.

Flamini has worked as a medic during his three years with the old warship, but he also does pretty much anything else needed. Tasks can range from training crew members to working the cannons.

He applied to work on the Constitution during the Covid-19 pandemic, when order selection for sea duty wasn't great. He thought this looked like a "cool and interesting" opportunity to pursue.

"I think the history and heritage of the Navy is important to a lot of us here — should be important to every single one of us, actually," Flamini said, adding that "being able to see where we come from, and where the Navy's going, has always interested me and everyone else on board."

Unlike Flamini, who's a fleet returnee, SN Alec Morris applied to join the Constitution right from boot camp. A recruit division commander had told him at the time that if he planned on spending time in the military, the ship was a great place to be.

"It's a huge resume-builder — you're going to learn a lot, you're going to get a lot of mentorship," Morris said, reflecting on what the commander told him over two-and-a-half years ago. "And everything he said was absolutely correct."

Bridging 'the old and the new'

The history and legacy of the Constitution don't just stay confined to the ship. They're reflected in Navy operations today.

Dreitz said the missions that the Constitution performed more than 200 years ago — protecting the freedom of navigation — are similar to those in which the Navy is currently engaged.

His remarks specifically alluded to the turbulent waters of the Middle East, thousands of miles away from Boston, where US ships have spent some eight months defending the shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden from relentless attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Back in its prime, the Constitution defended American shipping in a tense period of at-sea confrontations with France and against the infamous Barbary pirates.

The circumstances and technology are obviously different; the Houthis, for instance, are firing missiles and drones instead of cannons, and the American warships are significantly more modern and advanced than the Constitution.

However, for the Navy, the goal of protecting merchant vessels overseas has remained a constant through the years.

"She bridges the gap between the old and the new," Dreitz said of the Constitution.

• I'm a former TV chef who spends $150 on tasty ingredients and cooking shortcuts at Costco each week.
• The Minsley cooked rice and Bachan's Japanese barbecue sauce can effortlessly upgrade meals.
• I also grab ingredients like Kerrygold butter and Kirkland Signature Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Before the first season of my aspireTV series, "Butter + Brown," I trained with a chef whose husband was a corporate executive at Costco.

In my mind, Costco was for folks who loved pre-seasoned meat, Kirkland Signature-branded alcohol, and birthday cakes. However, I couldn't have been more wrong.

This chef gave me the inside scoop on the best items from the store, and since then, I've joined the nearly 35 million customers who have an executive Costco membership. I use my membership to stock up on ingredients for family dinners and quick meals.

Here are 11 items I always get on a $150 budget at my Los Angeles Costco.

The Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter is perfect for baking and making excellent sauces.

European-made butter in bulk is an instant "yes" for me. The quality of butter I use in baked goods or sauces can change the dish's outcome, so I always pick up two boxes of Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter to keep in my fridge.

European butter is also typically higher in butterfat than its American counterparts, which can make food taste richer and more flavorful.

Costco carries a salted version, which is my favorite. A pack of Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter costs $14.50 at my Costco.

My kids eat the I Heart Hydros hydroponic strawberries at every meal.

I can't speak for everyone else's children, but mine eat fruit like it's going out of style. These hydroponic strawberries, which are grown without soil, have been a mainstay in my cart lately.

One major plus of these berries is their taste, which is sweeter and juicier than many other options I've tried. I can't say if they're better for your health, but they're full of flavor and are a big hit at my house.

The hydroponic strawberries cost $6 per case at my store.

The Sun Fresh green seedless grapes are perfect for lunches and freezing. 

My pantry is stocked with snacks, ranging from veggie chips to cookies and Doritos. However, I also require my daughters to take fruit in their school lunches.

At Costco, I can find a variety of grapes, from black seedless and cotton candy to table varieties. I typically buy one container for the fridge and another for the freezer.

A 3-pound package of grapes costs $8.50 at my location.

I grab precooked rice for when I need a quick meal at home.

Like most people, chefs try to find ways to save time in the kitchen. I focus on figuring out what to feed my family for dinner, and for myself, I keep it simple.

The Minsley organic cooked brown rice is great alongside quickly seared salmon or grilled chicken. For $9, I bought a box containing six bowls of rice.

I like to satisfy my soda cravings with Poppi.

Before Poppi drinks, I hadn't had an orange soda in about five or six years. I was intrigued when I heard about the brand "bringing soda back." And they did, with a vengeance.

Now, I pick up a variety pack with cherry-limeade, orange, and strawberry-lemon flavors. With only 4 to 5 grams of sugar per serving, these sodas pair perfectly with lunch.

I bought a case containing 15 cans of Poppi for $20.

My husband drinks at least four cups of coffee daily, so Horizon Organic half-and-half is necessary.

Years ago, my husband slung espresso cups behind the counter at Peet's Coffee. Though he's moved on from that job, he hasn't left his coffee obsession behind.

This half-gallon carton of Horizon Organic half-and-half ensures we have enough for the coffee enthusiast (and me, the tea girl). At my location, a carton costs $6.90.

We need to have a lot of Peet's Coffee on hand as well.

I also get a bag of Peet's Coffee when I'm at Costco — I choose the Major Dickason's Blend, a dark-roast coffee with a rich flavor. This brew is full-bodied, bold, and not at all bitter.

Though big in flavor, it maintains its smoothness as it goes down. We love Peet's, so it's perfect that Costco sells a giant bag we can grind up ourselves. A 32-ounce package of coffee costs $16.90 at my Costco.

Breakfast with three kids can sometimes be chaotic, but ready-to-go bagels make it easy for everyone. 

My girls love bagels. I'm convinced it's the New Yorker in them, and Costco allows them to get their fix.

My kids have different tastes and preferences, so Costco's two-for-$7 deal on Kirkland Signature bagels is the best way to ensure they each have what they like. I usually pick up everything and plain for the kids, and sometimes, I'll grab a cinnamon-raisin pack for myself.

Simply Orange pulp-free orange juice gets a thumbs up from my daughter.

We're big fans of the Simply juices. I usually opt for either the brand's Simply Lemonade, Simply Limeade, or Simply Peach flavors, but at Costco, we get the Simply Orange juice.

Though I'm not a huge orange-juice drinker, my teenager loves to take a small bottle with her to school. A case of Simply Orange juice is $16 at my location.

Serving pasta once a week means there has to be cheese available. 

There isn't a week that goes by without my kids asking for one of my pasta dishes. Whether it's pesto, a simple Bolognese, or a kale-and-sausage dish, each requires a heaping pile of Kirkland Signature Pecorino Romano or the brand's Parmigiano-Reggiano to make it sing.

In my opinion, Costco has excellent wedges that taste just as good as something from a fancy cheesemonger. I bought a block of Pecorino Romano for $16.90 and Parmigiano-Reggiano for $17.10.

I like to stock up on my favorite condiments at Costco.

I'm a self-proclaimed condiment queen. I love a good hot sauce, an aioli, and a great dressing. Though I prefer to make my own, there are moments when I simply don't have the bandwidth to do so.

Bachan's Japanese barbecue sauce is handy for salmon-teriyaki cravings, and the Don Pancho cilantro-lime-crema everything sauce is great on tacos.

The Japanese barbecue sauce costs $6.80, and the cilantro-lime-crema sauce is $8 at my location.

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