If I've gotten an email or message about it once, I've gotten them five hundred times: "Dear Jo, I went to my post office and no one's heard of the free Military Care Kit. What do I do?" "This isn't a thing anymore. Just wanted to let you know." "You don't know what you're talking about. The post office doesn't give out free care package supplies." But here's the thing: the United State Postal System absolutely does give out free care package supplies. In fact, they do it in a few different ways. It all depends on what you want and where you make the request. (But honestly, it's Keep Reading...
These Amazon Prime Day Deals Are Perfect for Military Life
Y'all, Prime Day is upon us. And it's two days long this year! Even if you don't have an Amazon Prime account, it might be a great time to try it out for free. Amazon ships APO/FPO (just watch out-- there are exceptions, depending on the products). If you're cracking those textbooks open, remember that Amazon offers Prime at $6.49 a month for students--and that's not a Prime Day deal. That stands anytime. (You can also try it out as a student as a six-month free trial.) But first, two pro tips. Pro tip 1: You can save even more by using Rakuten (formerly Ebates). Amazon is a store Keep Reading...
Here’s How Military Brides Can Get Free Wedding Dresses
I did not have a "say yes to the dress moment." I had a lot of, "oh my gawd, no" moments, but when I put on the dress that I would eventually pick for our wedding, I didn't cry or get choked up. I didn't proclaim to my assembled family that this was "the one." Don't get me wrong-- I felt absolutely beautiful in it. I love the pictures from the day. I still love my dress. But I didn't have a visceral, heart-stopping moment. Not until I looked at the price-tag, at least. It was... pricey. It wasn't an outrageous amount, but it was above my initial budget. Maybe I should have expected Keep Reading...
How to Get Free Stuff for Your Next Care Package
Care packages are expensive. With a capital E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E. Between the contents of the package and the shipping costs, it's easy to rack up a bill that is ridiculously huge. I mean, colossal. Especially if you might send care packages on a regular basis. Or weekly. Not that I know anyone who did that. (It's me. I'm anyone.) For me, care packages were a tactile way I could send love and -- dare I say it?-- care to John while we were apart. It gave me something to focus my attention on, rather than just worrying or being upset. And it gave me a creative outlet, too. I knew that when Keep Reading...
27 Candy Swaps That Won’t Melt in Care Packages
June. That's when John stepped off the plane and onto the Bagram tarmac during his year-long deployment. June and it was already blazingly hot. Another service member was there to greet him... with a care package I had sent that beat him to Afghanistan. (It was this one!) I'm not joking. I had sent it two weeks before he deployed, sure that it would take at least a month for him to get something from me. Turns out, the mail was running exceptionally fast. And the care package that I had diligently sharpied "I love you!" onto the sides had been there, waiting for him. The service Keep Reading...
3 Online Careers Military Spouses Can Build
Today, Brenda, a military spouse and writer, is sharing her advice for work-from-home careers for military spouses. As a military spouse, you face challenges that most civilian families never have to worry about. While your spouse is working long hours, you are often left responsible for cooking, cleaning, paying bills and doing everything else necessary to run a home. If you have kids, you find yourself living like a single parent when your partner is deployed. Chances are, you don’t live anywhere near your family and lack a solid support system. On top of all that, you likely find Keep Reading...
Here’s Why I Don’t Care How You Spend Memorial Day
This is a guest post from Randi Cairns, a fantastic writer whose words I am excited to share with you again. Memorial Day approaches... With its sales circulars and commercials promising steep discounts and cheap mattresses. Recipes offering the best ribs you’ll ever eat and Smack Your Mama sauces. “Happy holiday” from the sales clerks and Wawa cashier. And I pass no judgment on how you choose to spend your long weekend. Because yes, they fought for democracy. They fought for freedom. And they also fought for your right to not give a damn about any of it. And who doesn’t Keep Reading...
Worried About Veteran Suicides? Here’s What You Can Do
This post is sponsored by the SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Center. All opinions and work are my own. Every few days we see the headlines: another veteran suicide. This spring has been especially brutal with huge news stories covering veterans completing suicide near or at VA hospitals. While the headlines are always horrific, we don't hear about every military-connected suicide. We couldn't. Sadly, there would be too many to keep up. It's an issue that is not only gut-wrenchingly sad, but it's also one that is personal for people in the military and civilians alike. While it Keep Reading...
Nominate a Military Mom to a $1,000 Shopping Spree
This post is sponsored by OM Media and Verizon. All opinions and work are my own. Caring for twins during deployment. Taking a Facetime call at midnight. Driving the kids to soccer-basketball-Scouts-swimming and back again. Grocery shopping with one arm because the other is occupied by a brand new baby. Is there anything military mothers can't do? (No, no, there's not. I'm in awe of them!) That's why Verizon wants to honor 15 military mothers across America with a $1,000 shopping spree at their local Verizon store. Yes. $1,000. $1,000 to be used how they'd like to use Keep Reading...
Here’s to the Military Spouses Everyone Forgets
For the vast majority of military spouses around the country, today-- Military Spouse Appreciation Day-- feels just like every other day. There are things to do, Facetime calls to wait for, PCSes to plan for, children to walk to school, jobs to search for. No awards. No brunches. No goodie bags. No meet-and-greets with famous people. No flowers. No thank you. All of those things-- from the discounts to the magazine covers to the social media posts-- are lovely and wonderful. It is important to set aside time to celebrate people who are making the community better. I am Keep Reading...
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