Notre Dame is on fire.It was a five-word text my sister sent out to our family. At first, I thought that she was talking about the university. Was March Madness still going on? Maybe they had a winning streak? Or something?But, of course, that wasn't it at all. Watching the coverage, my heart broke. We had just visited the cathedral two weeks ago, witnessing an evening mass with an organ recital afterward that was captivating. Truly, I'm struggling to string the right words and phrases together to accurately describe the experience.It's no wonder that people around the world Keep Reading...
Here’s How to Get a Military Discount at Kohl’s
I absolutely love it when I find out about new discounts or shopping tricks. It's like solving a puzzle-- how to get the best stuff for the cheapest price. And one of those places I love to frequent is Kohl's. Between their loyalty program, Kohl's Cash, and regular sales, I pride myself on being able to get a good--and sometimes amazing-- price for things that I'd normally buy (and sometimes I wouldn't).This winter I managed to score a Dyson vacuum for nearly half price during Black Friday Sales at Kohl's. (And then there was Kohl's Cash on top of that, which I bought Christmas presents Keep Reading...
6 Free Events and Contests for Month of the Military Child
While April has been designated as Month of the Military Child since the mid-1980s, it seems like in recent years, there's really been a surge in excitement and support for this observance. And there are a lot of really cool things happening locally and nationwide for military kids. From purple buildings to free food to contests for all ages, there's something for every military kid to take part in and feel a little special during their month. Check it out-- 1. Free food for milkids On April 13, AAFES is celebrating military kids with free food at a variety of restaurants Keep Reading...
Help a Veteran Entrepreneur Win a National Grant
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...
