Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

Julie

9 Things to Do When You Are Impatient About a PCS

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9 Things to Do When You Are Impatient About a PCS

How many of you are waiting on a PCS? Maybe you had orders to move and they were delayed because of what is going on in the world right now, maybe your original PCS date isn’t until later this year? Either way, waiting for a PCS can be difficult.

I have totally been there.

I couldn’t wait to PCS back to the US from Germany. I was so ready. And it seemed like we would never get there, but then the time finally came.

You can love your duty station and still be ready to PCS. You can hate your duty station, and struggle with extra time at a place you really don’t want to be. Whatever the reason, it’s hard to be patient waiting on a PCS.

Luckily, there are some things you can do to help you get through this time. Here are nine of them:

1) Remember the good times. No matter where you have been stationed, if you look hard enough, you have to admit there have been some good times. Maybe it is just that you love the deli you go to once a week, or maybe it is because you enjoy your daily walks. Whatever it might be, reflect on the time that you have had, journal your feelings, and pick some fun photos of your time there.

2) Make a bucket list for your new home. Spend some time online researching your new home. Figure out things you want to do once you get there. Take time to research now because once you get there, life might start moving pretty quickly and you might not have the time or energy to really look into what is there later.

3) Take up a new hobby. Cooking? Knitting? Photography? What can you do to stay busy? Focusing on a new hobby can take your mind off of the wait.

4) Look for a new home. This will, of course, depend on where you are in the PCS process. But, if you are looking for a home to buy or rent, you can start looking online. Even if your date gets pushed, you can get a sense of what is available in your new area or even help you make the decision to live on post or off.

5) Start going through stuff. It’s time to declutter. It’s time to go through everything. It’s time to see if your stuff sparks joy if you are into that. See what you can go through and what you can get rid of. It is easier to move with less stuff, and then you won’t run the risk of going over your weight limits.

6) Finish your current duty station bucket list. While you might not be able to do everything due to closures, you can see if there is anything else you can do before you leave. Maybe there is a park you have always wanted to visit or a local food you have wanted to try, now is your chance.

7) Blog about your duty station. Writing can be so good for you. Start a blog post about your current duty station. Don’t have a blog? I take guest post just about duty stations and would love to read what you have to say. The best way to learn about a duty station is from someone who has been there.

8) Buy something from your current duty station. We have this amazing painting that shows a soldier and his wife in downtown Schweinfurt by Lisa Parmeter, where we used to live. I am so happy I bought that because it is now on our wall and reminds me of our time there. See if you can purchase any local art or locally made crafts that you can take with you to your next duty station. You will be glad that you did.

9) Breathe. I know, this is hard. You just want to get moved. But you have to wait. And maybe you have downtime right now, maybe you don’t. Either way, remember to breathe and know this time will pass. And before you know it you will be knee-deep in boxes and PCS stickers.

Are you currently waiting on a PCS???

9 Reasons Why This Lockdown is Like a Deployment

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9 Reasons Why This Lockdown is Like a Deployment

So we are all pretty much on lockdown, except for essential activities. And things at home are going okay overall I suppose. In some ways, this time at home reminds me of deployments. It takes me back to previous years, when I had young kids, and my husband was way too many miles overseas serving our country.

Here are 9 reasons why this lockdown feels like a deployment:

1) We don’t really know when it is going to end

Sure, some people are telling us this will be over by summer, but we don’t really know. And we never really know when a deployment will end either. You might have a date, but that could always change, just like when this lockdown business is going to be over.

2) Binge all the things!

I swear, binge-watching was created for deployments. It is one of the best ways to get through those lonely nights. And during this lockdown, we have been doing a lot of binge-watching too, from Ozark to older episodes of the Office.

3) Cereal for dinner

I am not a big fan of cooking, so if you are, you probably can’t relate to this. But, not being able to go out to dinner means having to cook even more. And cereal for dinner might not be a bad choice to break up the monotony of cooking every single night.

4) Have to keep the kids busy

Staying busy is key during a deployment, and also during a lockdown. What’s hard is not being able to take them out anywhere, not even your local park. You have to find ways to keep them busy at home, which isn’t always easy.

5) STRESS to the max!

Deployments cause so much stress, and so does a lockdown. Yikes! Somedays I just want to cry about it all, others, not as much. It’s so important to try to find ways to destress both during a deployment and during this time.

6) Not everyone deals with it the same way

Since we are all different people, we might all handle deployments in different ways. Some of us struggle with being lonely more than others. And it is the same way right now. I know for myself, I even handle each day differently. It is important to have grace for one another, during deployments or a lockdown.

7) The days blend together

What day is it? Oh ya, Friday? April the what??? It can be hard when you are staying home with your little ones and don’t have a spouse with the weekends off. Each day kinda blends into the other. And during the lockdown, you could be experiencing the same thing.

8) You are trying to make memories through it all

Deployments, and lockdown can be a good time to work on making memories together. For a deployment, you want to share with your spouse that you are still having a good time. You don’t want life to just be put on pause while they are gone.

During a lockdown, it might be fun to look back at what you did during this time. Maybe you and your kids take a special walk each day, or maybe you have started working on a scrapbook together. Journal, take photos, and someday you can tell your grandchildren about this whole lockdown experience.

9) It won’t last forever

Just like deployments don’t last forever, either will the lockdown. We don’t know when it will be over but eventually it will be. Eventually life will return to normal, and we can move on. Just like we can from a deployment.

How have you been staying busy during this time???

How to Be More Productive When You Work From Home

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How to Be More Productive When You Work From Home

Can you wear yoga pants and still be productive when you work from home? Maybe!!!

I have been working from home since 2004, with the exception of the years we were in Germany. I have done quite a few different things from home, from operating an eBay store to freelance writing. These days, I work full-time from home. I have deadlines and things I have to do each day.

There have been times when I have been working from home when I had more flexibility as I was trying to figure out ways to make money online and to build up my income. There have been times when I had very little kids at home and had to work around them, and their needs. Such is the life of a work at home mom.

I have learned a lot from my years working from home. I have made plenty of mistakes. And I feel like I have found some ways I can be productive while working from home. And while working from home when my kids are home is more of a challenge, I am trying to stick to my working from home plan as much as possible.

Here are some tips on being more productive when you working from home:

1) Make lists

You are going to need to stay organized. For me, that is making a lot of lists. I try to make a list every night of what I have to do the next day, breaking it down between my different jobs. I have to see it in writing, otherwise, I start to get a bit panicked about what I might have to do. Writing it all down keeps me grounded and lets me know that I can, in fact, get my to-list done.

2) Watch your time

Time is an interesting thing. When I have nothing to do at home, time can drag. It’s only 2:30? Wasn’t it 2:15 HOURS ago? But when I am in work mode, time seems to fly by, which is both good and bad.

I love having a job where the time goes by fast but that also means I really need to be on top of my time. When I start my workday matters when I plan to quit for the day matters. And I need to be careful I don’t waste time during my work hours. Another reason a list is such a good idea.

3) Wear what YOU need for success

You know how people say you need to put on “real clothes” even if you work from home? Well, I only sorta believe that is true. You have to dress for what YOU need for success.

For some, that means dressing just like you did for the office, for others, yoga pants and pjs work just as well. I know for me, I have to get up, take a shower and put on clean clothes. But I love my yoga pants and wear them often.

I don’t usually do my makeup if I am not going anywhere, but sometimes I do. But figure out what works for you and your work day. What things do you have to do each morning to get into work mode?

4) Connect with others

Connecting with others is a must if you are working from home. Right now, while we all have to be at home, we can’t go out and meet people for lunch or coffee. But, when life goes back to normal, I suggest making plans to do so on a regular basis.

It’s hard to be working without co-workers, but being able to see other people during the week will help with that. Sometimes I can get pretty lonely when I am in my home working during the day. It is so nice to have a little break.

While we all have to be at home, it is important to still connect with others. From video chats, to text messaging, those ways of connecting will help you feel a little less lonely. I find that I need to reach out to my people during the day, even if it is sharing a meme or for a quick chat.

5) Save the big chores for off-work hours

This is something I have played around with a lot. Do I work for two hours and then work on a house project? Should I take cleaning breaks? What about throwing in a load of laundry during the day?

I think what works best for me is to save any big chores for off-work hours, evenings and weekends. I might do a load of dishes, or fold some laundry but other than that I try not to do too much around the house while I am in the middle of my work day.

I want to be in work mode and it is hard to stay that way when I have to take some time for big chores. Again, you have to do what works for you and your schedule.

6) Have work boundaries

This can be SO hard if you are working for yourself. You can literally always be “on” with checking social media or doing other business tasks. However, it is a good idea to have work boundaries.

Don’t take calls after a certain hour, only check your work email before dinner, or figure out other ways to get some of your non-work time back.

When you work from home it is very hard to create good boundaries between work and home. My office is in my living room, so it can be hard sometimes to keep things separate. It’s like I work in my home and my home is at work.

I try not to open my laptop on the weekends if I can help it. That way, I can truly enjoy my time off. I can relax a bit and take time for me and my family, creating a more work/life balance.

7) Take breaks

One of the things I am working on is taking an actual lunch break during my work at home day. Getting off my computer, and eating away from it. It’s hard though.

I think taking breaks is key. I also try to take a break to go work out or take a long walk. When my kids are home, I have to take a lot of kid breaks, but when they are off at school, breaks are still important.

If I was working at an actual office, I would be taking regular breaks. Just because I work from home doesn’t mean I should ignore taking them. Breaks can help you be more productive and make for a healthier work environment.

What do you do from home?

Getting Through COVID-19, With the Office

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Getting Through COVID-19, With the Office

Raise your hand if you are going through a challenging time right now???

I know my hand is up. There is a lot going on right now with military families. We are trying to get through COVID-19 and the pandemic, possibly going through deployments, waiting on a PCS, and just dealing with added stress from everything going on.

During times like this, it is a good idea to find the humor in things. From a silly television show to a funny GIF. And today, I decided to combine the two. One of my favorite TV shows is the Office, and I am on my 3rd watch of the series.

This show makes me laugh and puts me in a better mood. I love the Pam and Jim storyline and have enjoyed listening to the new podcast, the Office Ladies.

So as we are all going through this together, I figured, the Office can always make us feel better.

During all of this, at least we are not going through this alone. We are all in this together, no matter where we call home.
When you hear that school isn’t going to be open again until the fall. How did this happen???
When you are a news junkie and there is so much going on but you don’t want to share too much because well…you don’t want to bore everyone but really, there is so much going on!
When all you want to do is PCS to your new duty station but now it has been delayed even longer, after having to go through a regular old PCS delay last winter.
When the gym is closed and you can’t go to any parks, you have to find other ways to get your exercise in.
When you wake up in the morning and there is still Coronavirus and it doesn’t seem like it is going to go away anytime soon…
When your kids get all their online schooling done without any fighting or tears, from you…or from them. Let’s do it again tomorrow kids!
When you told yourself if you just had more time at home you could get so much done but you still feel like you are so bored you don’t know what to do with yourself.
When you are just going to keep watching the Office to feel better and laugh and forget about how crazy things are right now.

Who is your favorite Office character???

Enter to Win the Sleep Well, MilKid Sweepstakes

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Enter to Win the Sleep Well, MilKid Sweepstakes

This post is sponsored by Blue Star Families!

Sleep is so important, especially during times of stress like a deployment. If you have ever been a solo parent, you know how important that bedtime is. And once you put your kids to bed, you really want them to sleep the rest of the night. That way you can get your rest in too.

Unfortunately, things don’t always go so smoothly and kids might have trouble falling and staying asleep. Us spouses and even our service members might too. And that can make for a more difficult day.

According to the 2019 Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey, more than a third of military families reported that they are not getting the sleep they need to function effectively. One-third of military families also said that their child had experienced sleep issues as a result of their parent’s deployment, and over half of military families said their child experienced anxiety, worry, and/or sleep problems as a result of a deployment.

Enter to Win the Sleep Well, MilKid Sweepstakes

Sleep is a big deal, and that’s why Blue Star Families and Sleep Number have teamed up for the Month of the Military Child to support and strengthen military families via their #SleepWellMilKid sweepstakes.

What will you child win?

Your MilKid can win a Sleep Well Kit! Here’s what they’ll get:

  • Sleep Number® Kids Pillow, Twin Protection Pad, Twin Sheets, and Twin Blanket
  • ZZZ Bear Bundle
  • Sesame Street MilKid Transition Activity Book
  • Subscription to Caribu Reading App

They will select 100 lucky MilKids at random to win a Sleep Well Kit. But, to receive this cool prize, they must be nominated by YOU! Complete the form on their website, and enter your MilKid for a chance to win 🙂

7 Shows to Binge Watch When You Are Stuck at Home

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Shows to Binge Watch When You Are Stuck at Home

I love to binge watch shows. I started doing this during our first deployment. Back then I didn’t have Netflix streaming, what I did have was an on post library with DVDs of TV shows, YouTube, and other not so great streaming sites. We would have to load an episode, go do something for a while, and then come back to watch.

It’s so nice that these days there is so much to binge watch and that it is as easy as signing up for an app. Binge watching can be a good way to get through those lonely nights during a deployment, or to fill the time when you are stuck at home because of what is going on in the world.

Looking for something new? Here are 7 to add to your list:

1) Love is Blind on Netflix

Okay, if you haven’t watched this one yet, you should. I used to love to watch a lot of reality TV and these days I am pretty much over it but this one sucked me in. And it will probably suck you in too. And allow you to forget that everything is closed.

The show is a dating show, where men and women have dates in pods. Yes, pods. They can talk but they can’t see each other. The goal? Find someone to marry. No really. And it’s a crazy ride.

2) Locke and Key on Netflix

This show, based on the comic book series by Joe Hill, will suck you right in. You will want to know what is going to happen next. And wonder what is going on.

Locke and Key is about a family who recently lost their father. They return to his home town and live in his family house. The kids, two teenagers, and a young boy find keys that well…are actually magical keys. I loved the mystery of this one and felt part Stranger Things, part Goonies to me.

3) Virgin River on Netflix

If you want something a little more low key, check out Virgin River. This show is based on the books by Robyn Carr, and will warm your heart a little bit. It reminds me of a non-southern version of Hart of Dixie.

The main character is a midwife and moves to Virgin River to basically start over. The town doctor isn’t happy about this new arrival. And well…there is a handsome local of course, as well as a backstory we slowly learn about in each episode.

4) Little Fires Everywhere on Hulu

This show is new on Hulu, and so far, there are four episodes out. So if you want to binge the whole thing, you will have to wait a few weeks or watch the four now, and get hooked. The show is based on the novel by Celeste Ng.

The show is the story of a family of four children, with Reese Witherspoon playing the mom, and Joshua Jackson AKA Pacey, playing the dad. Kerry Washington plays a single mom, with her teenage daughter. This one is pretty deep but will also make you think about different things. Which is always a good thing.

5) Looking For Alaska on Hulu

Looking for Alaska is based on a John Green book that takes place at a boarding school. I read the book years ago and enjoyed it, and was excited to see a show based on the book.

Although this is a high school show, they don’t go to your typical boarding school. It’s more like a camp and about a boy, who falls in love with a girl, makes friends, and has to make sense of everything as they go through a tragedy together.

6) The West Wing on Netflix/HBO Max

I love the West Wing. I have binged the whole thing twice already and plan to do it again. This show can give you a big break from our own crazy political climate, and allow you to lose yourself in some late 90s, early 2000s drama.

The show is all about fictional President Bartlet, and his dedicated staff. The show will have you laugh a bit, draw you into the different relationships between the characters, and keep you entertained when the real world is a little too much.

7) Cheer on Netflix

This is a reality show based on the nationally-ranked 40-member Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team from Corsicana, Texas. The show will suck you in and warm your heart a bit.

You get to hear backstories from a few members of the team, learn more about their coach, Monica Aldama, and watch them train for nationals. This show will also give you a bit of hope for the future 🙂

While there has been news about Netflix and other production companies having to pause their filming, there are still new shows that will be coming out this spring and into the summer. And we can watch them all from our own homes!

What new shows are you loving during this time at home???

To the National Guard Spouse, During These Times

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To the National Guard Spouse, During These Times

If you are married to a member of the National Guard, you know they might get deployed. The National Guard does go on deployments to places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world, just like the active duty military does. They can also get activated or called up when the country needs them.

The National Guard will go and help after a hurricane or tornado. They assist in disaster relief and have even been activated to be at the border. But now, it looks like they are going to be needed once again, to help our country during this COVID- 19 crisis.

If you are a National Guard spouse, you either know your spouse is going to have to go or know that they could be. While other friends are getting ready to spend possibly more time with their spouse, you are on the edge of your seat wondering when and if they have to go. And when they do, what they will have to do, and how long they will be away.

So to my fellow National Guard spouses, this isn’t an easy time for us. We might not be sure what is going to happen. We are just not sure how this will all play out. And the public doesn’t always respond well when the National Guard is called up.

And the thing is, we really can’t talk to anyone who has been through this exact type of thing before. Because what is happening now, hasn’t ever happened before. The entire world is dealing with this virus and we are not sure how long any of this will last.

So what can we do? How can we stay sane through all of this? How do we handle all the emotions that come with waiting to find out what will happen with our National Guard service member?

A lot of what we can do is similar to the unknowns associated with a regular deployment. I know for me, during deployments, there were times when I had no idea when my husband would be home.

Maybe two months, maybe six? I really didn’t know. I didn’t know what the future looked like or how long I would have to solo parent. I just had to take it day by day. And that is how I am going to have to go about this in these times.

I am going to need to stay busy, although how I normally stay busy is going to have to change. I can’t go meet a friend for lunch right now or take my kids to very many places. Movies are out. Chuck E Cheese is out. Playgrounds are out. We have to stay at home as much as possible which I know is going to be challenging.

If my spouse does have to go away, that will add another layer to this staying at home business. It won’t make it easier that’s for sure, but I am hoping we can find a good way to handle all this. We might have to be more creative.

We National Guard spouses will also have the fear of what our spouse is going to be doing. Will they be in contact with the virus? Will the public become afraid of them? It’s so hard to know what being activated or called up for this will entail.

I am going to try to stay away from being fearful or all the what-ifs. That’s a hard road for me to go down. I want to stay positive. But that isn’t always easy for me to do.

I also know, this might be yet another challenge for us to endure. Life isn’t always easy and as a National Guard soldier, this is a part of his job. Still, that doesn’t mean it is going to be easy to get through, no matter how long it might last.

If you are a National Guard spouse too, know that I am right there with you. This is a scary time, but at least we can help each other through. Know that no matter what happens, we are not alone and not the only ones going through this. That is so important to remember.

I thought I had this year figured out. But everything has been turned on its head. From school, to how we spend our free time, and now to what my husband is going to be doing. I’m going to try to take it one day at a time.

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” –Mary Anne Radmacher

Your 2020 Reading Guide: Where To Get Books, and 5-Star Reads to Add to Your Reading List

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5-Star Reads to Add to Your Reading List

This post does contain affiliate links!

How are you all doing with being stuck at home? Finding enough things to do? Do you have enough books?

As a big reader myself, I am hoping that I will have some extra time to read while I need to be at home. I love to read and already read as much as I can. But, now, I can do even more of it.

While you might not be able to get out to a bookstore or the library, there are options for bringing books into your home:

  • You can read from a Kindle and connect to your library to rent books virtually.
  • You can set up apps like Overdrive and Hoopla, also through your library, to listen to audiobooks free of charge.
  • You can buy from sites like Amazon, Target, or Barnes and Noble.
  • You can order online from independent bookstores.
  • You can shop for Kindle deals and markdowns on different books.
  • You can take advantage of some of the authors offering free books during this time. Colleen Hoover has done this!
  • You can sign up for the Book of the Month and be able to choose a new book once a month. I LOVE Book of the Month and would recommend it to any book lover.

As for what you should read? That depends, what are your favorite genres? Looking for ideas? Here is where you can go to find book recommendations:

I also wanted to share some of my 5-star reads for you to add to your list:

Fiction:

  • All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
  • Followers by Megan Angelo
  • Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
  • Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
  • The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
  • American Royals by Katharine McGee
  • Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
  • She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb
  • The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
  • Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
  • Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
  • Park Avenue Summer by Renee Rosen
  • Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
  • The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Non-Fiction:

I think reading can be so therapeutic during any difficult time. While we are all going through this time with Coronavirus, I hope you can find time to read and work on your TBR. I know for me, reading will be one of my saving graces during this new normal.

Please share your favorite books or book resources!!!