Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

Julie

Empire Covers Car Cover Review

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Product Review DI was contacted by Melissa at Empire Covers to do a review of one of their products.  Empire Covers has a nice selection of covers for all types of needs.  They have Car Covers as well as other types of Vehicle Covers, Boat Covers, Bike Covers, Sports Covers and RV Covers.  They also carry a selection of car accessories.

I decided to go with a car cover.  As you know we just moved into our new house.  We have a garage that we would love to use for a car but not sure that can happen before winter gets here.   Since my husband is the one that has to get out of the house early, we thought a cover for his car would be best.  When you get to the site you can search for car covers based on your car’s make, model and year.  This is to ensure you get the exact cover for your car.

Empire Car CoversI ended up with the Titan Quatro 4L Car Cover which is supposed to be great for all types of weather.  Snow, rain, sun and dust. The cover comes all folded up and it is pretty easy to put on your car.  There is even a great video to show you how to do it on their site.  I would say it took me about two minutes to put it on, 30 seconds to take it off.

The material feels pretty strong to me and I found the color to be nice.  I kept it on overnight and although we didn’t have any rain or snow, it did keep the dew off of the car.

I think this will be great for the icy and snowy mornings we might get this winter.

Right now they are having a fall sale.  Enter the code: SPT10 for 10% off.

You can find Empire Covers at Twitter as well.

 

 

Painting the House

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Picking out Paint at Home Depot

One thing about our new house is that all the walls were a weird gold/orange color.  We knew we wanted to paint every room.  We started on a Thursday.  Went early to buy all the paint and got going right away.  We finished on Sunday afternoon.  We still actually have to paint the stairs/hallway and our bathroom but we 1) Ran out of paint 2) Are not sure what we want in the bathroom 3) Needed a break from painting.

Behr Paint from Home Depot

We started with the upstairs rooms.  Our two older boys share a room and we went with a pretty blue in there.   The baby’s room was going to be green but I changed my mind and decided to go with a bright blue.  I would like to have the room be blue, lime green and orange and slowly working on that.  For the office, we went to Scotland Yard which is a light green.  I love it.  So calming and soothing.  For the bathroom, we went with Cool Dusk, a darker blue.  I found a cute Monkey shower curtain so we are going with that theme so far.

Painting Our HouseAfter we finished the upstairs we started on the downstairs.  For the Master bedroom, we went with a dark green.  Not sure I was going to like it but after 10 days here I am loving it.  Still need to find some new bedding and another decor to match it.  For the living room and hallways, we went with a  pretty shade of green.  I just adore it!  I am so happy with this color.  The kitchen is yellow which I have always wanted.  It was the hardest color to paint but worth it.

I knew it was going to be a lot of work but so glad we did decide to paint what we did.  We are so much happier with the colors that we got to chose.  Not only does it look better in our opinion but it is nice to know WE got to pick all the colors.  The house is personalized for us, not some other family.

Faith Deployed…Again Review and Giveaway

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A few years ago I read Faith Deployed and just loved the book!  It was the perfect thing to read during our deployment.  So when I heard Jocelyn Green was going to come out with another one I was very excited about it!  I am also happy to take part in the Faith Deployed…Again Blog Tour that is taking place this week.

This book is set up the same way as the first one.  Each devotion starts with a bible verse and after is a question and a prayer having to do with the devotion.

This book is broken down into eight different sections.

    • Basic Training: Guiding Principles for Military Living
    • Intimate Allies: Protecting Your Military Marriage
    • Tour of Duty:  Overcoming Deployments and Other Separations
    • Soul Armor:  Guarding against Spiritual Attacks
    • Stationed in Christ:  Dwelling in the Lord, Near and Far
    • In God’s Service:  Living for the Lord
    • Home Front Hope:  Moving Forward in God’s Strength
    • For Blue Star Moms:  Trusting God with Your Service Member

My favorite section was “Stationed in Christ:  Dwelling in the Lord, Near and Far.”  Having lived in Germany for four years I could relate to the devotionals about being stationed overseas or in a far off place.  I also loved that there is a chapter for the moms of our service members.

What I like most about this book is that you don’t have to read it all the way through.  You can keep it on your nightstand and read a different devotion each night.  Or if you are struggling with different issues you will probably be able to find a devotion that can help.

How would you like to win a copy of this awesome book?  Jocelyn Green has given me an extra copy to give away to one of my readers 🙂

The giveaway will start today and end on Tuesday September 13, 2011.

To enter

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment telling me why you would want to win this book 🙂

Extra Entries:

  1. Tweet about the giveaway.  Make sure to included @armywifejulie in your tweet.  1 tweet per day.  Please leave 1 comment for every day you tweet. (1 entry)
  2. Follow me on GFC.  If you already are just let me know that. (1 entry)
  3. Blog about the giveaway.  Make sure to leave the link in your comment. (3 entries)
Good Luck everyone!  Winner will be chosen using Random.org.
 I received a copy of Faith Deployed…Again and a copy to giveaway in exchange for this review.

 

Can I Really Make it Through This Deployment?

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Can I Really Make it Through This Deployment?

Can I Really Make it Through This Deployment?

I was looking through some of the keywords that people use to come to this blog and “Can I Really Make it Through This Deployment?” came up a few times.  I want to tell these people that although it does seem hard, you can make it through.  The time before they leave can be really difficult.  You wonder what it will be like, if you can do this time alone, if you can parent alone if you can handle him being in a war zone, etc.  It is hard to know exactly what to expect, even if you have gone through one before.

You never really know how you are going to feel or what the deployment will be like.

Each one is a little different.

There have been times during all of our deployments that I just wondered how I would make it one more day.  I felt burned out and just done with everything. But somehow I was able to pick myself back up and get on with it.  Sometimes it was because of a lot of prayers, other times it was getting together with a friend and sometimes I would even have to give myself a pep talk.  A lot of tears might have been shed but that is how I got through the deployment.

I think we try to be strong and don’t think we can ever cry about what is going on.  We even hear people say we shouldn’t complain.  But some days you just have to break down. You just have to let everything all out before you can move on to the next day.  It is ok to have a bad deployment day, to have ice cream for dinner, to cry to a friend. This is all a part of getting through the months or even years alone. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Each of us handle this type of things differently and just because a friend never seems to have a bad day, it doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t.

So to those of you afraid for your first deployment and think you won’t be able to make it through, if you love your husband, if you are committed to him, then you will.  You will be able to make it through.  You will get through the X amount of months and come out stronger on the other side. You will. Sometimes it might feel like you are just getting through one day at a time. The days can feel long and frustrating. That is all apart of your journey. Try to remember that deployments don’t last forever and you will be reunited with your spouse once again and the whole crazy thing will be over. You will get to homecoming, I promise. You will be back in his arms and the deployment will be a part of your memories, for good or for bad.

What advice would you give to someone facing their first deployment?

 

* this post contains affiliate links!

Advice For Your First Deployment

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Advice For Your First Deployment

Advice For Your First Deployment

My next guest post is by a friend of mine, Jess.  She was the very first Army wife I met when we started this Army adventure. She was also my FRG leader.  I asked her to write about advice she would give someone who was getting ready for their first deployment.  Our first deployment was in 2006 and Jess was there to tell me a little bit of what to expect so I just knew this would be a great post!  Thank you Jess 🙂

Stressed? Emotional? Perhaps even a bit stand-offish? Sounds like you’ve got a deployment coming up. The bad news is your Soldier is leaving. The good news is you aren’t alone!

There is no specific way to handle a deployment, especially your first deployment. Some people take it all in stride and seem to brush off the hardship. Others seem to physically break down the second their Soldier marches away. Still others seem to change entirely and don’t seem to return to normal until their Soldier is back in their arms again. No matter which category you find yourself falling into, remember this: You are STRONG. You are CAPABLE. You CAN do this!

Just as parenting a child has no actual guidebook, deployments don’t come with magic spouse field manuals. However, let’s not speak that phrase too loudly. I’ve seen some pretty crazy things put into FM’s before. The greatest way to make it through the hardships of a deployment are to simply listen to your heart, listen to other’s advice and pray. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone! Believe me, there are a lot of us out there who are willing to listen and lend a hand (or a shoulder) when necessary. Don’t be afraid to ask.

One of the greatest things you can do for yourself is to set personal goals.. You don’t have to get crazy with it; the point of a goal is to be able to accomplish it. Set mini-milestones throughout to ensure you stay focused and on-target. A big favorite that I’ve seen is weight-loss/healthier lifestyles. Say you set a goal to lose 25 pounds throughout the year. Remember to start off in small increments, and celebrate each 5 pounds you are able to lose. This is a great way to have something realistic to look forward to in a relatively short time! The greatest part is-IT’S ALL YOURS! It’s very easy to lose yourself in the constant stress during a deployment. Don’t forget that your Soldier still needs you just as much as you need him/her. Take care of yourself, even while supporting your deployed loved one.

If I could offer just one last bit of advice, it would be to stay busy and not forget that the world is still going round. It’s very common to feel bad about going out and having fun while your loved one is away, but remember, you need your personal time as well. It’s ok to go catch a movie with the girls, or secure a babysitter for a few hours of pampering at the salon every now and again. You are HouseHold 6. You keep the home fires burning. You can’t take care of anyone else unless you take care of yourself first. Make yourself a priority, especially while your loved one is away. Don’t lose yourself to the chaos and stress, and always reach out if you need help. You follow a long legacy of the Silent Ranks. You can do this!

 

 

Paradise Springs at Gaylord Texan

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I love to travel! Sadly I haven’t been able to for a while and probably have to wait a while more to be able to do it again. So I decided to look for some guest posters to talk about great places to travel.  Heather from Dallas Single Mom is going to be talking about the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, TX.  It looks like such a fun place to visit!  Thanks so much Heather 🙂

Paradise is coming to Grapevine, TX.  Grapevine, Texas is located right between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and minutes from DFW airport in the middle of North Texas.  In beautiful Grapevine is a hodge podge of many family friendly resorts and activities.  The Travel Channel has profiled a special resort and called it the 2011 Best Family Getaway in Texas.

Grapevine’s Gaylor Texan is an entertainment resort that has just recently opened a brand new indoor and outdoor water park called Paradise Springs! This water park opened this past Memorial Day weekend which kicked off the summer season of splashing fun for DFW families. Featuring 10 acres of outdoor pool adventures and a lazy river complex, Paradise Springs boasts pools, outdoor recreation, and and outdoor pool bar with large projection screen movies for dive in movies. This new outdoor pool is also a part of the Gaylord’s 8th annual SummerFest with pool activities, culinary programs, firework shows, live entertainment and much more for all ages.

We are extremely excited to add this new amenity to our resort property,” said John Imaizumi, Senior Vice President and General Manager. “It is a spectacular pool with great features for both our leisure and group guests.

Paradise Springs at Gaylord Texan treats resort guests to a 600-foot-long winding lazy river with entertaining water features throughout and a 6,000-square-foot family lagoon with a walk-in beach, two horseshoe-shaped hot pools, a 27-foot water slide, a designated toddler pool, and water basketball. For those craving outdoor adventure between dips in the pool, the unique game pavilion offers a large campfire pit, bocce ball, croquet, tossers, and shuffleboard. Sun bathing is available on any of the pool’s 1,270 seats including chaise loungers, beach chairs, and family-style rounds. Those wishing to upgrade their pool experience will enjoy three sets of private cabanas available to rent daily, some of which will have their own flat screen televisions and fire pits for roasting marshmallows. Yummy treats will be served up by Gaylord Texan’s executive resort chef, Ty Thoren, and his culinary team with fresh and creative menu offerings for the full-service pool bar and grill, a quick bites concession stand, and poolside menus.

SummerFest 2011 activities will feature a variety of pool events, culinary programs, firework shows, and strolling entertainment. Guests will also be delighted by the resort’s two new restaurants, Zeppole Coastal Italian and Riverwalk Cantina; live music at the Glass Cactus nightclub; the 25,000-square-foot Relache Spa; unique retail shopping; and luxury accommodations in 1,511 guestrooms.

For more information on Gaylord Texan’s Paradise Springs pool, SummerFest 2011 activities, or special room packages for those wishing to “stay & play” this summer season, please visit http://www.gaylordtexan.com or call (817) 778-1000.

The Gaylord Texan resort is located at 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051-1945

*All photos are from gaylordtexan.com
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Blogger Bio – Heather Buen is the official Examiner.com writer for all culture and events activities for the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  To read about more Dallas events, please visit her Examiner page! Heather also has a personal blog where she offers advice and tips for single mothers at Dallas Single Mom!

 

Financial checklist for soon to be deployed military members

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My next guest post is by Matt Polsky from the VA Benefit Blog.  He is going to be talking about how to prepare financially before going on a deployment.

Financial checklist for soon to be deployed military members

Horror stories of soldiers accruing debt while serving are far too numerous.  Financial preparation could lessen the nerves of the moment and save money for both the service member and his or her family. However, how does one save? And what are some last minute tips for soldiers with no emergency fund?

Things to Do Before Deployment

Military members could save a lot of money while deployed. They could even potentially end with more money than they started. How?

  1. Create an emergency fund. It is extremely difficult to put money aside. However, everyone should try their best to throw a few extra dollars every week into the bank and forget about it. This is the most effective way to meet emergencies and life-changes head on. Try paying yourself first, aim to deposit 8-10 percent of your paycheck and try to forget about it until an emergency arises.
  2. Start researching what creditors offer military members on duty. Some creditors have military discounts and forbearances. Call them to find out what a military member can do in the case of deployment. Many of them will have an answer. However, some will not want to offer any leniency. In that case, all service members leaving for active duty should utilize the protections provided under the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act. The law protects military members from financial burden. They can eliminate or lower income tax, credit card debts, mortgage payments and rent while on duty. For members with families, the law gives them peace of mind because banks are not allowed to evict or foreclose on a home while a service member is on duty. This law still requires the military member to give the bank or property owner and other creditors proper notice of deployment.
  3. Making small decisions lead to big savings. For example, store the car away and do not let anyone use it. Insurance companies will lower plan rates for a car not in use. Not to mention, a stored car runs no risk of repair or damage if it is not being used. Another way a small decision could save money—suspend cell phone coverage. Many mobile providers can suspend your coverage and let you keep your same number for up to 18 months and reactivate the phone upon your return. This makes perfect sense for soldiers who regularly use online phone services such as Skype as well as prepaid phone cards and email to communicate with their family and friends back home.
  4. Obtain legal protection of finances. Assigning a trusted Power of Attorney to manage accounts and budgets could help to limit big spending and protect from theft or loss while gone. It would be a nightmare to come back only to find an empty bank account.

It is important to make sure family and friends are on the same page about the actions taken to protect funds. Assure them of insurance coverage as well as the protections under SCRA. Be strict about spending and the use of personal property while away. Taking the above precautions will leave one with money in the bank as opposed to substantial debt.

Matt Polsky is a blogger associated with VA Benefit Blog, a blog focused on providing veterans and service members with current news and information on the benefits they have through serving our country.