Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

Julie

How To Choose A Good College

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how to choose a good college

When I was looking for a college to attend, I did a lot of research. It was important to me to find the right place to go. It was a bit overwhelming looking at all of my choices.

I took a lot of time to look into the schools I thought I wanted to go to. I am glad I did as I was able to find the right place to get my education at.

Are you thinking about going to college? One of the best ways for a Military spouse to go to school would be to use MyCAA benefits. If you are married to an active duty service member or an activated reservist or guard member E-5 or below you can apply for these benefits. It can allow you to attend college without having to get student loans. I would have taken advantage of this if I had been a Military spouse during my college years.

Once you have decided that college is what you want to do, you will have to start the process of looking for the right school. While doing this you should narrow down the search to schools that:

  • Have a good program for what you want to study. You want a school that will allow you to study what you want to study. You also want to make sure that the school will work with you when it comes to how long it will take to get your degree.
  • In a location you are happy with. When I was picking out a college location was very important to me. I wanted to go to a school in a place I wanted to live. This narrowed down my choices quite a bit. A great option for Military spouses is distance learning. This way you don’t have to worry about where the college is physically located. This makes it easier for those who move around.
  • Rated High. You don’t want to go to a college that isn’t rated high overall. Even if they might have a good program, you want to be able to graduate from a school you will be proud of. Take a look at graduation rates, student satisfaction and length of time in business.
  • Works with Military families. When I was starting my college search I was not a Military spouse quite yet but if I had been this would have been really important to me. I would have wanted to find a place that could give me extra help and know what it is like to use the military benefits like MyCAA.

Although searching for a good college can seem a bit overwhelming it is such an important step in your career. One college that is worth looking into is Martinsburg College. They are a great school to get your education from because of what they can offer you.

  • Students who attend Martinsburg College have access to a sophisticated learning management system (LMS) which provides an interactive and rich educational experience and makes it simple to progress logically through the program.
  • There is a lot of support for students with many hours of support available each week for a student that might need some instructional help. They also have one-on-one and direct telephone or digital tutoring sessions.
  • Since they have been working with the Military community since 2004, they understand the needs of service members and their families.
  • They have a very high satisfaction rate with 95% of the students who take a survey expressing satisfaction with their experience.

If you are interested in learning more, visit the Facebook group that has been set up so Military spouses can learn more about Martinsburg.

This is a sponsored post by Quality Blue. All opinions are my own. 

Feeling Weak When Others Are Strong

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Feeling Weak When Others Are Strong

 

I love social media, I really do. I can’t imagine life without it these days but sometimes it can really frustrate me. Sometimes I think we only want to post about ourselves when we are strong. When we have it all put together and when everything is happy-go-lucky. I even hear people talk about how one should never complain on social media because it brings others down.

Really?

Now I agree, someone who is going to complain 24/7, on every post or even in real life every time you see them is going to bring others down. However, I do think it is okay to vent, complain or even share that you are not at your best.

There is this idea, especially in Military circles, that we are strong, all the time. That nothing can stand in our way. That we can conquer every little thing. Well, for me, that isn’t always true. There are some days I do feel strong, that I do feel like I have it all together but there are other days I don’t. There are days I feel very weak and days I don’t think I can really get through what I need to get through. I look around me and see others being so strong, doing it all and then some, being able to figure it all out, never getting upset or shedding a tear.

In reality I know that no one is that together all of the time. It is the face we present to the world. It is very easy to just show the good and happy moments.

Still, when I wake up sad and wonder how I will make it through the day without breaking down, I see people being strong through much harder circumstances and I wonder if something is wrong with me. That I am letting what I am going through bring me down so much and that they have figured out a way to get through it. Then I remember that I see 100% of myself and what I am going through and we really only see 10-20% of what others are going through. There is that quote about not comparing our “novel” with someone else’s “cliff notes” and that is so true.

I shouldn’t feel badly that I am having a bad day or that I feel like I couldn’t handle anymore stress at the moment just because someone else doesn’t seem to have an issue with it. We were all made differently with our own strengths and weaknesses. We can go through the exact same thing as someone else and have a totally different experience with it. And there are probably other circumstances they have gone though that they felt were very difficult that I didn’t think twice about.

I think it is important to have the right “tools” to get through stressful situations. Things to do such as praying or writing in a journal. People to talk with such as a best friend, family member or counselor. Still, some days those tools don’t work right and you just need to have a good cry or a good sob in some cases.

Sometimes it is because of a drill weekend right when I just need to spend time with my husband, sometimes it is because of my son’s special needs, sometimes it is because I am so homesick for my family and other times it is everything all put together.

It’s so hard to feel weak when others seem like they are so strong. Do you struggle with this too? What do you do about it?

 

 

April Fit Snack Monthly Box

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It’s time for another Fit Snack monthly box review. I always look forward to these because I am excited to try the new snacks.

Here is what I recieved this month:Fit Snack Box

My Favorites:

As soon as I saw the trail mix I knew I had to eat some of it. I am a big trail mix fan. This one was pretty good. A great mix of foods.

The Beanfield Chips were pretty good too. I would like to eat them when I am having tacos or some other type of Mexican dish.

The Go Raw cookies were a great snack to have around the house.

 

 

Fit Snack Box

 

 

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Are you curious about how they decide what goes into a box???

  • Each product always containing two or more of the following:
    GMO Free, High in protein, low in sugar, gluten free, organic, raw, vegan and all natural.
  • Plus, they add in bonus items such as energy boosters, nutritional supplements, or refreshing beverages.
  • Finally, they find a little space for exclusive workouts, workout gear or other active lifestyle inspiration.

What are the benefits to becoming a Fit Snack member:

  • Fit Quarterly – their workout, recipe and inspirational publication.
  • Fit Music – complimentary workout music mix from one of Hollywood’s hottest DJs, Jonny Fontana.
  • Fit Community – a supportive and active community of members that share tips, ideas, and motivation.
  • Fit Philanthropy  – for each box they ship, they donate one meal through Feeding America.

Fit Snack offers several different subscription plans including 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and annual subscription options. Monthly box prices
start at $15.00 (+ $5 S/H) and provide double that value within each box.

* I received this box for free as a Fit Snack Ambassador!

What My Mom Taught Me

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What My Mom Taught Me

My mom is one of the best. She has taught me so much over the years. She was a teacher by profession but she also taught me so many things over the years. She is still teaching me, even though I am 43.

She taught me to say please and thank you. I hear her voice even now reminding me about how important that is.

She taught me to be kind to everyone. I see how kind and caring she is to those around her and I want to be like that too.

She taught me to have fun. That sometimes you should do something a little silly. I have tried to be like that with my own kids as well.

She taught me about shopping. She might not think I was paying attention all those years when I wanted to be with my Dad at the bookstore instead of trying on clothes in the rest of the mall, but I was. She taught me how to look for deals and that you can in fact find nice shirts for as low as $5 if you know where to look.

She taught me the importance of family and that I should be nice to my brother. She wanted us to be friends and even though it took a very long time to get there, my brother and I are friends and I know that warms her heart after the years of sibling rivalry.

She taught me that a mom gives up herself, even if she doesn’t want to.

She taught me that even though you are a mom, even a stay at home mom, having your own dreams and interests is also just as important as raising your children.

She taught me to never give up and that if you want something bad enough, you might have to try a few different methods to get it.

Through her recent illness she has taught me that although life isn’t always perfect, having a good support system and a positive attitude can go a long way. She is so strong and I am inspired by her ability to get better and find ways to find support when it feels like no one else knows what she is going through.

She taught me to look for the good in everyone. To walk in someone else’s shoes before you judge them. You never really know what their story might be.

My mom has taught me so much. And even though I get a lot of my personality and my interests from my father, I see a lot of myself in her too. I was lucky to be raised by such a woman and looking forward to the day when we live close to one another again.

What have you learned from your mom, grandma or the other motherly figure in your life?

Sunday Weekly Blog Post Wrap Up {3}

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Sunday weekly Blog Post Wrap Up

 

Every Sunday I will be highlighting my own posts and the great posts I found this past week out in blog land 🙂

 

It’s time for another Sunday Weekly Blog Post Wrap Up!

I hope you are having a good Mother’s Day! I am excited to be spending the day with my own mom who is visiting from California.

This week was a good one as I got to spend time with my parents.

 

Here is what I wrote about this week:

  • Monday~ I blogged about 5 Great Work at Home Job Ideas.
  • Wednesday~I talked about one of my favorite places, Disneyland!

 

Here were my favorite posts this week from around the internet:

 

What are your favorites from this week???

The 10 Best Things About Disneyland

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The 10 Best Things About Disneyland

 

I think I have been to Disneyland about 130 times. I came up with this number based on how many times I went growing up, I had a pass from ages 10-18, and how many times I have been since I moved out of Southern California. I love the place and it makes me sad that I can’t go as much as I used to. It was a huge part of my growing up years and I always love to take my kids when I can. The last time I was there was in February 2014 with my brother and sister-in-law.

The 10 Best Things About Disneyland

I have taken my boys when they were quite young, my oldest visited at 15 months the first time. I have also taken my now 10 and 8 year old when they were 8 and 6 and it was awesome. We could go on any of the rides, no strollers, no diapers, it was great! I can’t wait to take my littlest guy who has never been.

I have so many memories of the place. From my mom waking us up and telling us we were not going to school but in fact going to Disneyland, to going on rides over and over with no lines because we were on vacation and no one else was, to walking around with my best friend, to going on dates there with my high school boyfriend.

The 10 Best Things About Disneyland

Here is my list of the 10 best things about Disneyland

  • Main Street- You walk in and you just feel like you are in a different place. If it has been a while, it takes you right back to previous trips. On Main Street you can walk through the shops, buy some candy or stop for some coffee. There are a lot of cool things to look at and I love the turn of the centry feel to it.
  • Indiana Jones- I think this wins for my favorite ride. I was about 14 when they put it in. Every time I go on it I feel so good. No matter what issues I am dealing with, the ride takes them away. I know that sounds a little silly but it is true. I can just lose myself in the ride.
  • Splash Mountain- Another one of my favorite rides.  I have some memories of looking through a hole in a board to watch this one being built. I like that the ride is not short, it is the perfect length and it is a lot of fun to go down the drop.
  • Pirates of the Caribbean- I have a very hard time when this ride is closed. It is another one of my favorites. Growing up I always wanted to eat at the Blue Bayou because you always go by that on the ride. Ben and I finally did this in 2009 and it really didn’t seem like the food was worth the price but it was on my bucket list.
  • The Smells- I came across this Buzzfeed article and it is all so true. Every single one. Sometimes I will smell Disneyland in random places. “This smells like the Pirates of the Caribbean.”
  • People Watching– We used to do this in high school all the time. Disneyland is the best place to people watch. There are people visiting from all over the world. If you are at Disneyland and need a rest, sit down and people watch for a while.
  • Dusk- There is something about dusk at Disneyland that just reminds me about when I was a kid. It is this feeling that I just had the best day ever and things are coming to a close. It reminds me that we have to decide what rides we are going to go on before we go home.
  • The Food- By food, I mean snacks. From churros to ice cream bars to popcorn to a frozen lemonade. When we were in high school my friend and I would eat our way through Disneyland, back when I had a better metabolism..:)
  • The Railroad- You see it when you first get in. You can take it to other lands or you can ride around the whole park. We always like to go on it in the afternoons when we are a little tired and just want to take a little break. It is nice because while you are resting you are still on a ride.
  • The Magic-There is just something magical about Disneyland for me. Just the mix of the attractions, the people and the atmosphere. I hope that one day in the future I will be able to go more than once every few years.

The 10 Best Things About Disneyland

 

Are you a huge fan of Disneyland or Disneyworld???

 

 

Military Spouse BlogHop Friday May 8th, 2015

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Military spouse blog hop

In in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, I will be hosting a Military Spouse Blogger BlogHop with Alia from Yellow Ribbon Diary and Kathryn from Singing Through the Rain!

Join us on Friday May 8th to meet other awesome military spouses!

Here are the rules:
Starting at 11:00 am on Friday, I will put up the Linky. Kathryn and Alia will also have one, you can link up anywhere, or all three!

Just make sure you link to at least one 🙂

Post your introduction page!

Put fun facts about who you are, what you do, anything you want to include.

Then come over here and sign up on the link. Make sure to put your URL.

Then visit the other blogs that have linked up! Make sure you comment that you are from the hop!

Also, you can link back to us and share on social media to let others know about it.

Looking forward to getting to know more of you 🙂

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back When Raising a Special Needs Child

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Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

When my oldest was diagnosed with a developmental delay, I knew that someday he would grow out of it. Then a few years later my 2nd little boy was diagnosed with Asperger’s. This was a whole different ball game. He would always be autistic. That would never ever go away.

However, that doesn’t mean we don’t make progress or that he never improves. It means that we will work with him over the years to be able to grow and learn how to live in this world.

We started with ABA therapy and now we have a great team who work with him at school.

When I look back at where he has been, we have made some amazing progress. For one thing, he gets on the bus like a pro. He used to just stand there refusing to get on it. I also used to get calls a lot of the time that he was having a horrible day or that he needed to be picked up. Things have been so much better this year in second grade. For one thing he matured so much over the summer. It was only 2.5 months but he seemed to really start to get the whole school thing.

That is why yesterday I was in for a shock when the bus tried to drop him off and he wouldn’t get off because he had a bad day. The school tells me what happens and it gets sent home in a folder. He knew he would not be able to play video games and earn a token for his day. I was able to get him off the bus and he was in tears. I had flashbacks to 1st grade and started to panic.

“How will he finish the end of the year? We still have 2.5 weeks to go?”

“How will he get on the bus in the morning? He is refusing to go back to school.”

“What did I do wrong? Everything was working. It was working!!!”

That is what flashed in my mind when we got into the house. I was worried. I just didn’t know where this was coming from and I wasn’t sure how I was going to calm him down.

I took a few breaths and remembered that we have come a long way and that with Asperger’s, it is very much two steps forward and one step back. And that’s exactly what this was, just a step back.

I talked things over with my son. We talked about what went wrong, why he got so upset and what we could do to make it better the next day. Within about 30 minutes he was calm and eating his snack. He assured me that tomorrow would be a much better day. I hope it is, but even if it isn’t, I know we have come such a long way with him and that this is normal. It is all a part of him figuring out the world and working on his behavior. I also have an IEP meeting later this week so I can bring up what happened. We will also be planning for third grade which makes me a little nervous.

I am hoping that he will mature more over the summer like last year and that third grade can be a great year for him. I don’t want him to always hate school and I don’t think he really does but it is hard to hear when he is having such a frustrating day.

Two steps forward and one step back is such a part of his journey. It probably always will be.

Do you go through this with your special needs child?