Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

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When the Blogger Lost Her iphone

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When the Blogger Lost Her iphone

A few weeks ago we had a little situation with a pool. It was the first time we had been at the pool this summer and there were about five things I could have done differently to prevent what happened. Looking back, I am a little irritated with myself about it but you can’t change the past, only be smarter in the future.

We walked into the pool area and I just assumed my kids would be just fine around the pool. Looking back I should have not assumed that and I should have put the Puddle Jumper on my 4 year old before we got there.

As I looked for a place to put our stuff, my 4 year old decided to jump into the pool. Only, he can’t swim so he started freaking out. I noticed right away and even though I was wearing jeans, I went in to grab him. As I did this my 8 year old realized he could no longer touch and started freaking out. My thoughts were to go in a little further because my pants were already wet. I didn’t think about anything else. Once everyone was safe, I realized my phone had been in my pocket. I grabbed it just in time to see the Apple logo fade away and die.

Crap.

As soon as I got home I put it in rice. I asked for advice and that seemed to be the #1 answer. I heard stories of all types of phones being saved this way. It sat there for three days. I plugged it in and nothing. It was dead. My brother in law told me he had a phone come back to life a few months after the fact. I am not sure if that will happen to mine. I hope it does. I really do.

I went online to look at my options. I am about 18 months away from being able to upgrade with Verizon. They won’t let me do the Edge program either. My other option is to buy a phone outright. Which I can’t do at the moment. Even the cheapest iphone through them is over $300. I looked at other places like Groupon and you can get a iphone 4 for around $150. But really? I don’t want to spend much money on this. At least not right now.

My current solution was to hook up my old Droid for now. It pretty much sucks. It’s old, slow and has very little battery life. But it makes phone calls, I can get my email, text and even use Instagram. It will be okay for now. Until I figure something else out.

It has been an interesting two weeks since I lost my iphone. The photos I can take are pretty bad so I have not been reaching for my phone as often. It’s both good and bad. I would be using my DSLR more often except we have been at the pool most days. There have been a lot of memories made that no one else will ever see. In a lot of ways this is a good thing. I do feel sad that my family is going to miss some of these moments when before they would be able to see a picture of it. I don’t know. I like not feeling like I should take photos of every little thing but I miss it too.

I can get on social media on my phone but it is a pain because the apps run very very slow. So I don’t usually go on unless I am home. This is a change and a good one I think. Although I had hoped to do some social media when we were at the park or somewhere like that, I am okay with not really doing that anymore. In some ways it makes Twitter and Facebook a little more fun.

I don’t know what my smartphone future looks like. My husband and I just have to make fun of the one I am using. It’s so old it even has a Blockbuster app on it. Apple will come out with another phone in a few months and then maybe I will have more choices.

I learned a big lesson though, when around water, never ever keep your phone in your pocket.

Have you lost a phone you couldn’t replace? What did you do?

How To Work From Home During The Summer

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How To Work From Home During The Summer

Working from home is great, especially since all three of mine are in school most days. My youngest only goes three times a week but I still have chunks of time to get things done. But…as of tomorrow we will be on summer break and all of that changes.

I am starting to panic a little about how our summer will go. How will I get all my work done and still spend pleanty of time to allow my kids to have a fun summer? It’s a challenge for sure. I can’t afford to hire a babysitter or put them in daycare at this time.

Until Mid August it will be me and the boys. There is summer camp, day camp, swim lessons and a few other random things we have scheduled. On days when we don’t have a lot to do I want to go to the pool, the park, the library, $1 movies or just something fun and summer like.

So how do I get my work done? How do I find time to still do what I normally do during the school year?

Here is my plan:

  • Waking up early, before the boys. Based on spring break, my boys will probably go to sleep around 9-10 and wake up around 7-8. Mornings are pretty simple IF we don’t have to rush out of the house first thing. I think there are only a couple of weeks where we will have to be somewhere by 9. Even that is later than the school year. So I will get up early, work for a few hours while they sleep and slowly get up.
  • Less tv, working at night. I love my tv but that is time I could work especially during the summer. I can stay up a little later after the boys go to bed, we will see how this works out.
  • Using my Smart Phone. I can do a lot of my phone. I can even blog on it using Google Docs. I have found that when I do this I even write a little faster for some reason. My kids can be playing at a park and I can be writing my posts. It’s perfect.
  • Write everything down. If I don’t write it down, I will forget it 9 times out of 10. Even if I tell myself not to. Making lists of what I need to get done each and everyday goes a long way. I literally have to schedule everything, even downtime but that is how I can get it done.
  • Taking breaks. I don’t want to work 24/7 this summer. I couldn’t really enjoy the time with my family if I did. I think it will be important to stay on a regular schedule but also take time off, especially when my husband is off work. He won’t have very many days to spend with us but we plan to take advantage of the ones he does. And on those days I probably won’t be working at all.

What about you? Do you struggle with working from home during the summer? I know some bloggers take the summer off but I just can’t do that. What tips would you add to this list?

5 Great Work at Home Job Ideas

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Work At Home job Ideas

Working from home is ideal for a lot of people.  There are different ways to do it but you have to find the job that is going to work for you and your situation. Someone who has three kids four and under at home will have to find something different than a mom of all school-aged kids or a woman without any children. If you are wanting a work from home job, ask yourself when you would work, how much you could work and what type of jobs sound good to you.

There are jobs that require that you be on the phone and there are jobs that require you to work at specific hours. Others can be done over the internet and can be done during any hour that works for you.

Here is a list of work at home jobs that you might want to consider if you are trying to find a way to make money from home:

  • Freelancing- this can be writing, graphic design, social media or any type of service you can provide for someone else that you do as an independent contractor. You would not be working for any company, you would probably get a 1099 at the end of the year for taxes. This will allow you to work on different projects and for different businesses. You can be as busy as you would like or just take a couple of jobs a month.
  • Blogging- There are a lot of bloggers out there making a full-time income, others are making a part-time income. It can be done and it is a good goal to work towards. You need an idea for your blog and to be able to put the time into it. The money won’t happen overnight but it is possible to work from home as a blogger.
  • Working for a company who hires at home workers- Some companies hire people from home to work for their companies. You would apply and then have a few weeks of training all from home. They might require you to work certain hours or schedule you based on each week. This type of job would be best for people who do not have little kids at home every day, all day long. It requires a lot of your attention as you might be answering customer service phone calls and would need a quiet house. One example of this is working for Apple. This article explains more.
  • Direct Sales- You have all heard of direct sales. Scentsy, Jamberry, 31 Bags, Young Living Essential Oils, Tastefully Simple, etc. With direct sales, you will be signing up with a company and selling the items. You would not be an employee but you would be considered an independent consultant. People could sign up under you and you would make part of your income based on their sales.
  • Selling Handmade Goods- If you are creative and can make something worth selling, this might be an option for you. It can be done on a part-time basis or you can step it up and make it a full-time job. You can sell online, at vendor fairs or even put your products in a local shop. The key is being able to make something that is worth buying and to know how to sell it. Having a business mindset will go a long way in this type of job.

What would you add to this list? What have you done to make money from home?

 

5 Rules You Need to Follow When You Work From Home

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5 Rules You Need to Follow When You Work From HomeWorking from home can be a dream. You can work in your pjs, you don’t have a boss standing over you, you can pee when you want and enjoy the freedom that it brings. And although all those perks are pretty cool, in order to make working at home successful you do have to follow a few rules.

Throwing kids into the mix makes it a little more difficult. You might feel like you are juggling one too many things. It can be overwhelming at times and you might find yourself looking at the local help wanted ads for a job far away from the place you call home. It happens to all of us.

 

 

Here are a few tips to make it a little easier for yourself.

1) Have a schedule. Waking up and thinking, “I will get some work done today eventually” doesn’t work well for me overall. Yes I am able to get some things done but I always feel behind and out of focus when I do. I need to know the night before what I am going to work on the next day and the times that I will be able to work on it. Insert a snow day and it makes it even more difficult. You get thrown off and it is so hard to do a lot when all the kids are home, especially if it is unexpected. Having a good schedule will help you stay on task and accomplish what you need to get done each day.

Tweet: Having a good schedule will help you stay on task and accomplish what you need to get done each day.

2) Get dressed. I know, the whole work in your pj thing is pretty cool. If that works for you, don’t change it. I know for me I need to get dressed, even if that means putting on new yoga pants and a t-shirt. I have to be in something different from I woke up in. It helps to have school aged kids because I would do this anyway. It puts me in a better frame of mind. It gets me ready to work.

3) Don’t just work from home. Find a coffee shop or library, take your laptop and plan to spend a few hours getting some work done. It is easier to focus when you are not reminded of all the laundry you have to do or the dishes that need to be done. If you have small children this might not be an option for you but if they are in school or daycare, take advantage of that sometimes and get out of the house.

4) Move! The other day I worked straight from about 9-12 and then looked at my Fitbit and cried. It reminded me that I needed to get up and move a little bit. Even if it is just running in place for a few minutes. Sitting all day long is not the healthiest thing in the world. Take breaks and make sure to move. Your body will be happy you did.

5) Act like you work. I always struggled with this one. And the lines blur a bit when it comes to the kids. But if you need to work from home, take it seriously. Make sure you are not making other plans everyday. Make sure you let your friends know you are working. It is way too easy to tell yourself you can always work later on but the truth is, something else might come up. During your work hours, make sure you are working and that you aren’t off doing something else. This is why #1 is so important. When you have a schedule down on paper it is a lot easier to stick to it.

The balance of home and family can be so difficult. Being a WAHM is a great way to make an income but it isn’t as easy as just sitting at your computer and making some money. It takes time and planning and a little bit of creativity to get what you need to get done each day.

 

Making The Best Use Of Your Working Hours When You Are A Work At Home Home

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Making The Best Use Of Your Working Hours When You Are A Work At Home HomeWhen you work for yourself, you are your own boss. This is nice. You can take time off when you want. You don’t have anyone looking over your shoulder. You don’t have to ask anyone when you can go to lunch. On the other hand, when you are your own boss, it is on you to stay on task and get your work done. This can be difficult if you are not used to it. Working from home comes with a lot of different distractions. From kids to piles of laundry that need to be done. It is way to use to not make the most of your working hours.

How can you make your work time more productive?

 

1) Make Lists- This is so important when it comes to working for yourself. You have to have a list of what you plan to get done each and everyday. If you don’t, you will quickly feel overwhelmed with everything. Spend 5 minutes every night making your list for the next day. This is even more important if you have any type of deadline. I have posts I need to write on certain days so I always make sure to put them on my calendar as soon as I get them.

2) See Where Your Money Goes- When it comes to Internet business it is way too easy to sign up for every little course or app. Be careful. It is way too easy to spend too much money each month. If you signed up for a service and want to give it a trial period, put an end date on your calendar. On that date decide if that service is worth keeping or if you should let it go. I have done this with a few different services that I ended up cancelling after a few months. I just wasn’t getting my money’s worth.

3) See Where Your Time Goes- It is so easy to waste time online. You plan to go online to write a blog post and find yourself on Facebook. Just be careful about where you are spending your work hours. Since you work for yourself, you are not going to have to hide what you are doing online from anyone. If you spend too much time messing around, your work will suffer. Too much fun time online will mean a lower paycheck for you when you make money online.

4) Find What Works for YOU!- When you get started in this business you might want to follow what another person has done. This is all well and good but make sure you are finding what works for you. If you have three little kids at home with you during your work time you are not going to be able to do the same thing someone without kids at home might be able to do. Figure out your strengths and weaknesses and find a work method that makes sense for you and your goals and environment.

5) Let It Go- I figured this out pretty quickly. If something I am working on is taking too long, if I can’t get it to work right, if I can’t find what I am looking for…I put it away. I can always go back to it later. I have spent too much time trying to figure out how to change a theme or look up something when I should have just let it go for a while. Move on to something else and go back to what you were doing later. Don’t waste too much time on something you might not be able to figure out. Don’t be afraid to ask for help either. One time my blog went down and I asked on Twitter what was wrong. I got an answer right away and it was easy to fix once I knew what the issue was.

Do you work from home? What tips could you add to this list?

Don’t Make Me Type In A Code And Other Blogging Annoyances

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blogging annoyances

I enjoy visiting a lot of different blogs in different niches.  I try to get to a few other blogs everyday. I have been doing this for a few years now and I have noticed some things that drive me a little crazy when I see them on a blog…

1) Music that plays by itself. Remember the days of Myspace and playlists? That was fun but I don’t enjoy seeing it on a blog.  When I am looking through blogs I am usually listening to music or a podcast and if music starts randomly playing on a blog, it is a huge turn off for me. In fact, it drives me nuts. Any music you have on your blog should not start automatically. I understand wanting to share music but it is so much nicer to let the reader chose if and when they want to hear it.

2) White writing on a black background. This is frustrating because it is hard to read. I might really enjoy what you are talking about but if it is hard to read I am more likely to stop following you. It also can give some people a headache and that isn’t good. It might work for sites that are more photos than words as photos look really nice on a black background.

3) Word verification or captcha. I hate this. I really really hate the Blogger.com version of it with the numbers against a wall. I usually can’t even figure out what the numbers or letters are. Now I know spam is a problem but there are other ways to deal with it. Word verification is a huge turn off to me. I also don’t like when I leave a comment and get up from my computer only to come back to it hours later to see I missed filling it out because of captcha. Just say no to captcha. I would rather check a box or something easy like that.

4) Not allowing comments. I know there are certain blogs where this is needed but if I am reading your blog and want to respond, let me leave a comment. I don’t want to click on another link and go somewhere else to do it. I want to leave it right there on your blog. I can understand turning off comments if things get too heated on a certain post or even after a certain amount of time but please let your readers have a say.

5) No way to share you on Social Media. I know that I can copy and paste your link to whatever social media site I want but it is a lot easier if you have a button right there for me to use. It makes it easy for me to share your post which is better for you. If nothing else, make sure you have share buttons for Google+, Facebook and Twitter as those are the most popular of the social media sites.

Not everyone blogs the same way and there is a lot of debate about how to handle things in the blogging world but I think most of us bloggers would agree on this list. When you have your own blog, you don’t want to be turning people off for silly reasons that you could easily change.

What drives you nuts about a blog?

How To Stick To OPSEC When You Are A Military Spouse

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OPSEC

There has been a lot of talk about Isis and blogging and PERSEC and OPSEC and what we military spouse bloggers need to do about it.

Some of us have decided to keep on blogging like normal. We are not too worried about it and although we are safe with our personal information, we don’t think that we need to stop blogging like we have been.

PERSEC and OPSEC are very important for all military spouses, not just us bloggers. If you have a spouse in the military, you have to be very aware of what you post on social media. There are certain things you can’t say like the return date of your loved one or how many days you have left and other information like that. You also can’t talk about the day they’re going to leave until after the fact.

Different bloggers have different comfort levels when it comes to what they share with the public.  Some don’t want anyone to know that they are a military spouse and that is totally fine.  Others have a blog that centers on the fact that they are a military spouse and Military life is a huge part of their lives.

It really just depends on your comfort level.  This is the decision to tell you that my husband is in the military. It is the decision to tell you where we live, although not the exact address of course. It is also the decision to tell you when my husband is deployed or if he deploys. I know for myself since I blog about military issues, especially deployment, that there would be no way to carry on my blog the way that it is without letting you know that my husband was deployed. It’s kind of one of those things.

When I have spoken about deployments, I have tried to keep it more general. I am not going to tell you the day that he’s going to leave. I am not going to tell you the day that he gets home. I might say he is going to be deploying rather soon. I might say that he will be home rather soon and that we are at the end of the deployment. I really don’t even want to know about his mission or where he is until he is home with me so sometimes I don’t even know what he is doing or where he is exactly.

OPSEC

OPSEC comes into play when you’re talking about dates, locations and all of that. If you are a non-blogging military spouse, the most you have to really worry about is Facebook although it is not a good idea to talk about the dates openly in public either.

For the military spouse blogger, it is even more important since more people are reading what we are writing. If I were to write on my blog that my husband is getting home in 10 days that would not be good in that would be a big violation of OPSEC. There have been cases of groups of soldiers being delayed because of people breaking OPSEC.  Think about how frustrating that would be if you’re waiting for your husband and you find out that the only reason that they are getting delayed is because somebody talked about it on Facebook. It happens.

So, if you are a blogger, what are you supposed to do when you want to write about the deployment? When you want to share your feelings about the night before he leaves or the day before he gets home?

What I have done about this is I write about these things when they happen but I did not publish them until after-the-fact. This way, I can share with my readers my feelings on those days but I’m not breaking any OPSEC rules.  When you do get to read them, it has already happened and it is no longer an issue.

I don’t want to live in fear. I want to be safe but not fearful and that includes my blog. I don’t want to break any OPSEC rules.  I’m not going to tell you things that you don’t need to know. However, I am going to share that my husband is in the military as that has been a huge part of my life and a huge part of this blog.

I do encourage bloggers to only post what they feel they are comfortable with. If they don’t want to share that their spouse is deployed or even in the military, that is okay. Not everyone blogs the same way.

 

How do you decide what you’re going to share on your blog? If you are not a blogger how do you decide what to share on social media?