Stories & advice that feel like coming home.

6 Tips for Emergency Prep for Military Families

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Navy Federal Credit Union. All opinions are 100% mine. July felt a little like living in Forrest Gump: "One day it started raining, and it didn't quit for four months. We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin' rain, and big ol' fat rain, rain that flew in sideways, and sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath. Shoot, it even rained at night." It rained here in Pennsylvania for nearly a week straight--in some locales dumping more than 20 inches in a week-- creating huge flooding issues that Keep Reading...

Self-care is a buzzword these days, but here are real ways that military spouses can take care of themselves so they can take care of others. ad

How to Practice Self-Care as a Milspouse

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This post is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/Make the Connection. The opinions and text are all mine. I stared at the wall in our new apartment and I cried. Behind me towered a wall of boxes that wouldn't be unpacked for at least another four months. Ahead was a white, undecorated wall. We had just gotten married and moved into an apartment that we'd only occupy for a third of a year and decided that it didn't make sense to unpack anything other than the bare necessities. John was at C School and was gone all. The. Time. We only had one car. I had Keep Reading...

7 Creative Financial Hacks for Your Military Family

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of USAA. All opinions are entirely my own.  I was. Not. Having. It. Just a few months into being a military spouse, our bank account was dangerously low. I was unemployed, not because I wanted to be, but because the slow-moving licensing process of transferring my teaching credentials was super expensive and ultimately not worth it, when we considered our PCSing schedule with the military. John was working hard, and I had begun freelancing, but when it came to our expenses, it simply wasn't enough. We kept looking for new ways to Keep Reading...

These apps will help make your next PCS move easier and cheaper.

9 Must-Have Apps for a PCS

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Four words: Permanent change of station. A PCS will either strike fear or excitement in your heart. But regardless of how you feel about a PCS, you definitely feel something about it. And no matter what you think about PCSing, there are three things it can always be: Easier, cheaper, and calmer. Yassss. And your phone can help you with those three goals. Ready? Let's go. 1. My Ultimate PCS How do you start this list without the new milspouse-created app, My Ultimate PCS? Dreamed up by two military spouses, My Ultimate PCS app works to streamline military moves all with an Keep Reading...

The Definitive Guide to Military Spouse Subscription Boxes

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There's something really exciting and magical about opening your door and finding a box on your front porch addressed to you. When John was deployed, I found myself so excited for the mail. Even if there wasn't a letter from him waiting for me, there was usually something else-- a magazine, a postcard--something to break up the monotony that becomes deployment. When John deployed, there were no subscription boxes for military spouses and significant others. But in the six years since, there's been an explosion of entrepreneurs from the military community looking to fill an need. Currently, Keep Reading...

Plan a Phenomenal Beach Trip on a Bargain Budget in Jacksonville, NC

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This is a sponsored post. I received a trip to Jacksonville, NC in exchange for this post. All opinions and photographs are my own.  Last year, John and I had the great fortune to visit Jacksonville, NC for a weekend getaway. Home to Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, is a town beginning to really flourish and find its voice. From artisan, small businesses, to a growing moonshine distillery, to local roasters, there's something exciting happening in Jacksonville.  We loved our weekend getaway last year, and were thrilled to be welcomed back to visit once again this summer. Honestly, it's easy Keep Reading...

7 Ways In-laws Can Support Military Spouses

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In the military community, it seems that in-laws can be a divisive topic. Either spouses absolutely LOVE their in-laws (and I've read some pretty amazing stories!) or they hate their in-laws with a fiery passion (and I've ready some pretty crazy stories on that end too). The stress of being far away from home and the needs of the military create a lot of tension and frustration that pulls at both parties. So I wanted to write about that. I asked the Jo, My Gosh! community to respond on Facebook or via email and tell me about the best and/or most frustrating things their in-laws have done Keep Reading...

6 Unique Gift Ideas for Expecting Military Parents

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of 1 Natural Way, a TRICARE breast pump provider. All opinions are entirely my own. Military families spend a lot of time apart. A lot. And that doesn't change when a pregnancy happens. After all, the needs of the military always-- and I mean always-- trump everything else. That can make it hard on expecting military parents, no matter if it's the first or fourth pregnancy. Whether there's deployment or TAD/TDY, a PCS, or the loneliness that comes from not being close to a support system, there are almost always military life obstacles to Keep Reading...

The (Exciting) Thing No One Tells You About Being a Military Spouse

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This post is not sponsored. I'm just excited to bring you an opportunity through an ethical fashion company that is actively seeking military spouses as Sseko Fellows. I gave up my teaching career to marry my husband. When he got down on one knee in front of Penn State's Old Main, my job--my career-- was the furthest thing from my mind. The only thing that ran through my head was one word: "Yes." I didn't want to do life without him. So there was only one answer to his question: yes. The career fall-out of my decision didn't really hit me until I was sitting in our apartment, two Keep Reading...

6 (Seriously) Fun Summer Activities for Military Families on a Budget

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Navy Federal Credit Union for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. When John and I were first married, we didn't have a lot of money for extras. Even now, we watch our spending, but back then, we watched every penny. You see, a month after we married, both of our old cars decided to fall apart... within a week of each other. We had to purchase a new car on one income, since I had left my stable teaching career in order to move to where John was stationed. It was a pretty precarious time for us financially. And maybe you've been there too. (I Keep Reading...

5 Ways to Stay Cool and Support the Military Community This Summer

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I received a gift card in exchange for this blog post. As always, all opinions and work are mine. There’s nothing--nothing--like relaxing by the pool or in the air conditioning when it’s miserably hot and humid out. (Those of you who have been stationed in the south east know exactly what I’m talking about!) Even here in the mid-Atlantic, temperatures just aren’t… pretty. But that’s to be expected. It’s July. And summer is just starting to heat up. And so is this awesome opportunity from Macy’s. From June 28 to July 8, when you donate $3 to support America’s military community, Keep Reading...

What You’re Really Giving Up as a Military Spouse

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Thanks to Bethaney from the Social Robot for her guest post today! When getting into a relationship with a military member, you may or may not have been giving a crash course of what's to come. Perhaps you were even given an earful from friends and family. I've heard of newbies attending classes and really immersing themselves in the culture... before they ever say "I do." And then there are those who say their nuptials and learn in the moment (or were already married when their member joined). Of course there's no right or wrong way to get married, but understanding a little on the Keep Reading...

If you've ever dreamed about opening your own business, you'll want to check out this giveaway. A veteran-owned business is giving 5 military spouses franchises worth $40,000 as well as training and help to get them started so they have a flexible, remote, and PCS-safe career. You could be one of those milspouses. #ad

How Military Spouse Entrepreneurs Can Win a $40K Franchise

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This post is sponsored by EventPrep. All opinions and work are my own. The second month of my marriage I spent (mostly) frustrated with what my life and career had become. I was a teacher who left my school and career after five years to marry the love of my life. The only problem? My license didn't transfer to the new state that would become my home for 3 1/2 years. What's more, the costs of transferring my license were too much for our young marriage and desperately low bank account. With astronomic student loans, purchasing a car when both of our old clunkers died within days of each Keep Reading...

How to Help Pregnant Military Wives During Deployment

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of 1 Natural Way, a TRICARE breast pump provider. All opinions are entirely my own. This year a good friend of mine found out that she was pregnant during the first few months of her husband's deployment. And I realized how little I knew about dealing with a deployment while pregnant. After all, John and I were engaged during his year-long deployment to Afghanistan and we didn't have kids, either. I felt a little lost. I wanted to be the best friend possible while still respecting her space and her privacy. She's a brilliant, Keep Reading...

Here’s How Milspouses Can Get $360 in Free Career Tools Every Time They PCS

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If you're like the vast majority the military spouse community, you've dealt with at least a few frustrations when it comes to your career. I know I have. My story isn't much different than many other spouses'. When John and I married, I left my job as a high school English teacher, moved out of the state to John's installation, and realized that it didn't make any sense to get licensed again... we'd be moving soon and the costs associated with a new teaching license would not justify the enormous probability that I would not find a job before we had to move again. So I started freelancing Keep Reading...

6 Ways to Create Magic During a Deployment

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This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com. I didn't grow up in a military family. In fact, I knew very little about the military until I started dating John. (And then, oh boy, did I learn A LOT in a little bit of time.) But I did grow up in a family that prepared me to live military life. I grew up with parents who taught me important skills and mindsets like resiliency, empathy, and organization. But they also taught me one other thing about life that really made my military journey a lot easier. They taught me about creating (and finding) magic in the ordinary. It didn't cost a lot Keep Reading...

Being a military spouse can be lonely and stressful. Use these 6 suggestions to help bring a little sunshine into a military spouse's day.

6 Ways You Can Brighten a Military Spouse’s Day

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Military life can often be lonely. Frequent moves that take you states--or countries--away from your family and friends... deployments... trainings... a scary news cycle that never seems to turn off... And not only can it be lonely, sometimes people decide to voluntarily detach themselves from people and places. It makes saying goodbye and being far from home less painful. But it doesn't make the loneliness any better. Fortunately, for your military spouse friend, you are awesome (because you're reading this post, and clearly you want to help your military spouse--or significant Keep Reading...

Here’s How This Hotel Chain Puts the Military Community Front and Center

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This is a sponsored post. I received a complimentary stay from La Quinta Inns & Suites in exchange for a blog post. All opinions are my own. The night before I flew out to Austin, TX for a conference, it snowed 12 inches here in PA. I'm not joking. 12 inches. Twelve. Inches. Of. Snow. So you can imagine that when I touched down in beautiful, warm, sunny, and snow-free Austin, I was beaming. And I hadn't even seen the hotel I was staying at. When the Uber pulled up to the drive, I was surprised. Gone was the La Quinta that I remembered from years of childhood road Keep Reading...

Memorial Day is about honoring those who died while in service to our country. Here's what some military spouses want you to know about this holiday

Here’s What 11 Military Spouses Want You to Know About Memorial Day

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For most of the US, Memorial Day is the start of the summer, a three-day weekend, and a chance to get the grills out. It's not controversial or a cause for a lot of philosophical discussions. But for military families, Memorial Day often can feel like a flash point of the military-civilian divide. Many currently military families honor people they personally know who have died during service. Staples of Memorial Day celebrations--sales, picnics, and parades--are often at loggerheads with how military families think the day should be observed. I asked the Jo, My Gosh! community to share Keep Reading...

8 Care Package Gifts for Your Military Guy on Father’s Day

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This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Holt’s Cigar Company via SoFluential Media. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Father's Day can be an emotional time for both kids and their dads during deployment. And of course, not all things can be solved with a care package during deployment, but I do think that the act of creating something special and sending it to someone you love for their enjoyment can be very cathartic and help loved ones feel a little closer. Creating a care package is easy because it's all about the person receiving it and the person (or people) putting it Keep Reading...

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