When John left the military, we had a clear idea of what he wanted to do. That's because he'd been dreaming of the next step in his career, even while he was deployed to Afghanistan. When he transitioned out of the Navy, we knew that it was our chance to make this huge life goal happen: we were going to open a coffee shop.Since opening nearly a year and a half ago, we've seen tremendous changes in ourselves and in our community. We made the choice to open the coffee shop in my rural hometown and to be part of a driving force to revitalize and draw more business and cultural Keep Reading...
This Cooler Company Offers a Military and Veteran Discount
I received product from Patriot Coolers in exchange for a blog post. All opinions and work are my own. In September 2016, John and I embarked on one of our bucket list goals: a 6-week cross-country road trip to celebrate his transition from Navy life to civilian. We had begun planning it at least a year prior, when John had made the final decision that no, he would not reenlist. One cool, misty late-September day, we packed our car full of stuff--including a cooler-- and we drove west from Quantico, ready for one of the biggest adventures of our lives. As the East Coast melted into the Keep Reading...
21 Financial Assistance Resources for Coast Guard Families During the Shutdown
It looks as if January 15 will be the first pay period that Coast Guard families will miss due to the 2019 Government Shutdown. You can read more about how and why we got to this spot here. But the facts are, more than 40,000 members of the Coast Guard will not be paid on time for their January 15 paycheck.USAA loan option USAA has rolled out a new loan product for military families affected by the shutdown. With government shutdowns becoming increasingly likely and prolonged, USAA has reevaluated and revamped their loan options to give military families more flexibility. In the past, Keep Reading...
UPDATED! Government Shutdown: What Coast Guard Families Need to Know
Well, folks. There's a government shutdown... again. For the third time this year (which is unprecedented, btdubs), the US government has come to a grinding halt and military families have worried about getting paid on time. John and I lived through the 2013 government shutdown as newlyweds when I didn't have job; we were nervous wrecks. I get it. It's scary. There are a lot of rumors. And there's a lot of ulcer-inducing fear to figure out how you're going to pay those bills in the event the government does not pay out on time.I've collected as much information as I've been able to find Keep Reading...
6 Last-Minute Party Hacks for Military Families During the Holidays
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General. All opinions are 100% mine. So... you're scrolling through Facebook and you have a serious case of FOMO.Your friends and family back home are celebrating the season with gusto. There are party pictures and event invites. There are messages from loved ones reminding you that you're missed (which is really nice... but can also be homesickness-inducing). There are the holiday concerts that your nieces and nephews are performing at... and that you're not attending.It can be rough. But the truth is, in life there are no Keep Reading...
Is Your MilFam Budgeting for These Things in 2019?
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Navy Federal Credit Union. All opinions are 100% mine.Finances are a huge source of stress on marriage. But for military families, that natural stress is compounded by the obstacles of military life. The underemployment and unemployment rates for military spouses are much, much higher than the national average. Military families move considerably more than their civilian counterparts. And military families are often far from home and support, which can create extra financial burdens on a family.All of that can make budgeting a hot Keep Reading...
What TRICARE Users Should Know about Urgent Care
This post is sponsored by MedExpress Urgent Care. All opinions and work are my own.When I was 29, I started not feeling well out of nowhere. It would come out of nowhere--sometimes when I was on the couch, or when I woke up in the morning. Still being a fairly new military wife--I avoided calling TRICARE to make an appointment (I know, I know, I know).The thing was, I was stressed, tired, not feeling so well, and the clinic was far away in terrible traffic that would most likely take me an hour door-to-door. I wasn’t feeling up for the drive or the stress.I figured it would sort Keep Reading...
Here’s How 30 Seconds of Your Time Can Help Hungry Veterans
This post is sponsored by Operation In Touch. All opinions and work are my own.Busy.It's the word that is defining my life right now.My planner is a depressing swamp of to-dos and appointments that take way too much time when I have way too little of it. And sometimes at the end of the day, I'm glad that I was able to keep the status quo--even though it feels like I haven't gotten anything accomplished, at least I was able to keep my head above water.Sometimes it's a little paralyzing. And sometimes it's downright suffocating.I'm guessing you know exactly what I'm talking Keep Reading...
9 Ways to Curb Your Holiday Gift Budget During Deployment
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Navy Federal Credit Union. All opinions are 100% mine.You know what's worse than the stress of deployment? The stress of deployment combined with the stress of finances. Been there, done that. The Christmas John was deployed, I spent a lot of time worrying about my budget. John and I were engaged and had a lot--and I mean a lot--of big expenses and big decisions coming our way. (Hello, wedding! Goodbye, job. Hello, PCS! Goodbye, career. Hello, joint debt!) We weren't alone-- and I know that our situation was better than some and worse Keep Reading...
Here’s How to Make Military Life an Asset in an Interview
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine. You know you're dreading the question-- the one that comes up when the interviewer knows you're a military spouse. Instead of putting it off, dig in! While there are some organizations that might see military life as a distraction, a growing number of organizations are embracing military spouses and veterans. (And that's an awesome thing!) I landed a full-time job as a military spouse (and quite a few long-term freelancing gigs) and learned a lot about what it takes to Keep Reading...
