Stories & advice that feel like coming home.

9 Ways to Curb Your Holiday Gift Budget During Deployment

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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...

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...

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...

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...

13 Florida Amusement Parks and Attractions with Military Discounts

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I looked out my window last week and saw snow. Snow! In mid-April! (And it hasn't gotten much warmer since.) I love winter as much as the next gal, but this seemingly endless winter’s got me dreaming of warmer weather. Reading a guilty pleasure book on a sandy beach under an umbrella shading me from the toasty sun… That divine scene makes me think it might be time to plan a trip to Florida!Whether you’re booking a family vacation, looking to get away with your significant other, or dreaming of summer adventures, military folk have lots of options in the Sunshine State. Check out this list Keep Reading...

18 Military Discounts in Salem, Massachusetts

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I had the pleasure of visiting Salem, Massachusetts this summer. While this is not a sponsored post, I did receive a few fun perks while we discovered everything Salem has to offer. Here in Pennsylvania, the last week of August suddenly turned a lot  cooler than normal, and it's not hard to imagine that fall is soon on its way. I can't help myself-- whenever I think of the fall, I think of Halloween, leaves turning, and New England. I think of maple syrup and pilgrims and wood fires. I've correlated the two ever since I was a nerdy kid who loved to read history and fiction. And there's Keep Reading...

This Hotel Chain Caters to PCSing Military Families

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This post is sponsored by Extended Stay America. All opinions and work are my own.It's the end of the day. The kids are fighting. All of your worldly possessions are in your car... or a moving truck that you haven't seen for the last two weeks.You. Are. Tired.But you've pulled into the parking lot of the hotel you're going to be staying at while you find your new home at your new duty station. What hotel did you choose to stay at? Why? It seems like a little thing, but the hotel that you end up crashing at for those first few weeks can mean that you're comfy and less stressed, or Keep Reading...

Try These 11 Must-Do Activities in Jacksonville, NC

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We're back from our weekend in Jacksonville, NC, and let me tell you, it truly lived up to and exceeded our expectations. While I had been there 20 years ago as a child, I truly didn't know what to expect as we began our weekend. To put it mildly, Jacksonville surprised us. A. Lot.(And in a good way, too.)If you're headed to Jacksonville to visit loved ones or if you're getting stationed there, there are a few things you've got to do. 1. Visit Jeff's Burgers, Dogs & Shakes It may look like your standard diner on the outside and inside, but bite into a burger, and you'll Keep Reading...

This Military Town is Reinventing Itself… and We’re Going to Check It Out!

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If you've read Jo, My Gosh! for any length of time, you know that my husband and I love to travel. We are road trippers to the max (is that even a thing?!); we love adventure (as long as it doesn't involve heights for me) and we love local (especially if it includes delicious food).And we'll be hitting the road again-- to Jacksonville, NC and Camp Lejeune. Now, I know what you're thinking. Because honestly, I thought the same thing. Let's be honest: Jacksonville, NC probably isn't on your list of places to go. At least not if you're not deploying. But all of that is changing. With a Keep Reading...

9 Things Military Families Must Know Before Buying a Home in Colorado

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This post is sponsored by YourColoradoSpringsHouse.com; however, all opinions and words are my own.Ah, Colorado. Skiing. Hiking. Beautiful National Parks (that you can get into for free, thanks to the Military Pass). Colorado is a unique place-- from its laws to its climate, there really is nowhere else like the Centennial State.  So how do you buy a home there-- especially if you've never been there before?Don't worry; I've got you. Let's break it down together. 1. Grow houses Marijuana is legal in Colorado and that includes growing it. Ask your real estate agent if the house Keep Reading...

The Best Burger of Your Life is on Route 66 (and Other Can’t-Miss Attractions!)

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This post is sponsored by Government Vacation Rewards via Sofluential Media.I ate the best burger of my life on Route 66 this fall.That's not hyperbole. It was the best burger. It was a meat symphony of deliciousness. The McMillan in Flagstaff, Arizona: God bless the chefs, the menu, and the servers.I could wax poetic about the burger for an embarrassingly long time. I won't do that, even though I want to. The point is that Route 66 is magical for a variety of reasons and driving it as a family or a couple is a trip that you will never forget.For military families, Route 66 can Keep Reading...

5 Travel Resolutions for the Rest of 2017

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In 2016, John and I had the chance to do a lot of lovely traveling together. We spent time in upstate New York, we saw Navy beat Notre Dame in Jacksonville, and we toured the country eating cajun in New Orleans, fry bread in the Navajo Nation, and doughnuts in Oregon. I traveled with work, visiting San Diego and Seattle and having the pleasure of meeting tons of military spouses along the way. We’ve spent time being local tourists in our new home too-- experiencing new restaurants, going to the theater, and seeing the quirky fun things in our town.As far as travel goes, 2016 was quite Keep Reading...

This Vacation Tip Saves Time and Money for Military Families

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This post is sponsored by Armed Forces Vacation Club. All opinions are my own.I'm not going to lie: I love vacations. I love dreaming about them. I love planning them. I love going on them. (I do not love unpacking from them, though.)I just love traveling and seeing new places. (I'm guessing that you might be like me, seeing as you're a military spouse. It's kind of in our blood.) In the last few years, my husband and I have traveled to Ireland and England, explored our former home state of Virginia, and spent a month cruising around the US on a once-in-a-lifetime road trip.I Keep Reading...

5 Safety Tips from a 11,000 Mile Road Trip

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Ever since John and I have been together, we’ve had one goal: Once he got out of the Navy, we were going to take an epic, no-holds-barred road trip.This October, we did just that.We packed our little car full and we set out for a 6-week, cross-country adventure. We saw the headwaters of the Mississippi in Minnesota… and then we saw the delta of the Mississippi in New Orleans. We saw bison in Wind Cave National Park, we went to church with President Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia, we looked at the largest trees in the world in Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park, and Keep Reading...

Make road trips easier and cheaper with these tips for military families.

6 Forgotten Road Trip Planning Tips for Military Families

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This post is sponsored by TravelCenters of America. All opinions and work are my own.During the past year, John and I have begun to plan a massive road trip of the United States. We're super excited to jump in our car and spend a few weeks exploring the country-- the Mississippi River, Yellowstone, the Pacific Northwest, the Grand Canyon. We're totally stoked.Except for two things:1)  It will take a lot of planning-- probably more planning than we've ever done together for a trip before.2) It will cost a bit of cash money (although probably less than in other years-- thank you, Keep Reading...

How to Make the Most of Your OCONUS PCS to Europe

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Thanks to LeAnna Brown of the Economical Excursionists for guest posting on travel abroad today!Holding hands under the Eiffel tower...Being serenaded by a gondolier down a Venice canal...Walking along the Berlin Wall...Skiing down the Swiss Alps...Most people only dream about these activities in some far-off, never to happen vacation fantasy.  But, for a few lucky military members, this is real life. Every weekend being able to throw a dart at a map and say, "Let's Go!" because Europe is quite literally your backyard is not some college backpacking dream anymore- it’s Keep Reading...

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