Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

Military Life

Can Raising Your Kids Away From Family Be A Good Thing?

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Can Raising Your Kids Away From Family Be A Good Thing?

This past weekend, the article, Why Raising Kids Without Family Nearby Sucks by Scary Mommy was being shared on Facebook.

I could really relate to most of that post, as many other military spouses can too.

Can Raising Your Kids Away From Family Be A Good Thing?

We have not lived near family since my oldest son, who is almost 14, was six months old. We have never really had local family to help us along the way. My kids don’t know our families as well as they could. There are a lot of things they are missing out on because of living far from home.

Some of my friends do live near their family. I see their parents stepping in for different situations. They seem to always have a backup. If dad has to work, and mom has to take one kid to an appointment right when school gets out, a family member can pick up the other kids.

I see how friends can attend family birthday parties, and go out with their parents on Mother’s day, and Father’s day. I see how grandparents go to all the sporting games, school plays, and other events that kids take part in.

While some of our family has been able to come and visit and experience some of that, it hasn’t been the norm.

When I think about all of this, when I think about how our lives would be different if we lived closer to family, I couldn’t help but wonder if I am looking at that through rose colored glasses? Maybe it wouldn’t be as wonderful as I think it would be? Maybe, for my personality, it would drive me nuts? Maybe I am thinking all of this to cope with the fact that it might not ever work out to live near family?

When I was growing up, I wanted to get out and explore other places. I wanted to know what living somewhere else was like. I wanted to experience something completely different. Because of this, I moved about nine hours away from home for college. Then, my husband and I moved to Kentucky in 2005. The Army took us to Germany, and then Tennessee. None of these places are like where I grew up in Southern California.

These days, we have a home here in Tennesse, in a military friendly city, that we usually enjoy living in.

Can Raising Your Kids Away From Family Be A Good Thing?

We are over 2,000 miles from most of our family. And sometimes I like that. 

Don’t get me wrong. I miss my family like crazy. I wish I could be there too most days. To go to my dad’s concerts, to meet up during the week for lunch with my mom, to be there as my brother starts a family. I hate missing so much.

But the reality is, I am not sure what it would be like to live near my family. I have never really done it except for extended trips. I don’t know what it is like to be able to see them all the time or to have such easy access.

Do I get along so well with my family because I don’t live close? Would there be drama if I was? I just don’t know.

So on those days when I am feeling bad because I am not raising my kids near family, I try to think of the positives of this way of life. The quiet Christmas mornings, just our family of five. Being able to parent the way I want without a lot of well-meaning opinions thrown into the mix. Being able to vacation in Southern California vs trying to raise a family. Because I am not even sure how people do that these days and a lot of my friends have moved out of state for cheaper places to live anyway.

Military families can have amazing experiences during their time in the service.

They can live down the road from a castle in Germany. They can be stationed near the beaches of Hawaii. They can live off the California coast, or have the mountains of Colorado as a backdrop. And a lot of these experiences come at the cost of not being able to live near family. Of missing out on too much. Of being the out-of-town people who visit once in a while.

And maybe, in the end, there is no perfect way to do this. Perhaps each type of life comes with its own set of pros and cons. And perhaps those are different based on who you are and what you want in life.

Can Raising Your Kids Away From Family Be A Good Thing?

And when you are raising your kids away from family, you find a way to make things work.

You have to rely on other people, which can be hard, but which can also help you grow relationships you wouldn’t otherwise have. You learn different skills and work to make a good life for your kids, even if extended family isn’t the biggest part. You learn to adjust and figure out a way to make it through.

As for us, I really don’t know what the future holds. Somedays I want to move back to the west coast, and others I am perfectly fine here in Tennessee.

What about you? Have you ever lived near family? Did you like it? Do you dream of a life where you can?

The National Guard Doesn’t Deploy and Other Myths That Are Simply Not True

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The National Guard Doesn’t Deploy and Other Myths That Are Simply Not True

I have been a National Guard spouse for four years now. After years as an active duty spouse, I am very aware of the differences, even if some of them don’t apply to me directly. There are a lot of myths about the National Guard and Reserves life out there that simply are not true.

I think a lot of them are there simply because people don’t know any National Guard or Reserve families or make assumptions based on things they have read or heard about in the media. Whatever the reasons, this post is all about those myths as well as the truths behind them. I asked my Facebook group, and other National Guard and Reserves spouses told me what myths they have encountered over the years:

The National Guard Doesn't Deploy and Other Myths That Are Simply Not True

One weekend a month, two weeks a year

Okay, let’s talk about this. You have probably heard the tagline about the National Guard or the Reserves as being just one weekend a month, two weeks a year.

What really happens? Well, one weekend a month can be anywhere from 1 day to 4 or 5. Usually 3-4 days. So a weekend, plus a day or two.

The two weeks a year is usually more like 3 or 4, sometimes more than that. We are right in the middle of AT season right now, and service members are training for way more than two weeks at a time.

This also doesn’t account for any extra training or schools they might do during the year.

They don’t deploy

Yep, heard this one plenty of times and it isn’t true at all. While it is true that some Guard units haven’t been deployed for some time, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen or won’t happen. Back when we started the Iraq war, I remember hearing about so many of the National Guard units deploying for up to 18 months.

These days, the National Guard deploys pretty much anywhere that active duty might go. Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and even Europe. They don’t just stay within their state, they go out into the world, wherever they are sent.

Being in the Guard or Reserves is easier

I will say that our National Guard experience has been easier than our Active Duty experience. But from talking with other spouses, this isn’t true for them or even necessarily the norm. This depends on so many things.

There is nothing easy about being a National Guard or Reserves spouse. There are a lot of things that they have to deal with that active duty doesn’t. There are different ways to serve your country, each other their own struggles.

For some, a typical month would include 50-60+ hours in a civilian job, a drill weekend, and then 50-60+ hours in the civilian job. This is all without a day off in between. Talk about being burned out from work.

40 years for retirement

Another myth is that to receive retirement as a National Guard or Reserve service member is by serving 40 years, double the time it would take an active duty service member. But that isn’t true.

What is true is that your service member will not receive their retirement until they are 60, in some cases 50. And they also will need 20 years of qualifying service. A qualifying year means 50 retirement points. This article, Guard And Reserve Retirement explains more.

The National Guard Doesn't Deploy and Other Myths That Are Simply Not True
That fitness isn’t that important
There is the idea that fitness isn’t important in the National Guard and Reserves, but that simply isn’t true. While a service member in the Guard or Reserves won’t go to PT on a daily basis as active duty does, they still have to maintain standards. They will still have PT tests that they need to pass.

That they don’t miss as much

I am not sure why people have the idea that National Guard or Reserve service members don’t miss too much. They can miss plenty. And it seems like anything important will take place during a drill weekend.

Bosses have to give you the time off, so everything is cool

Legally, your boss has to give you the time off you need to go to drills and training as well as deployment. They can’t fire you because of your military service. However, that doesn’t mean they have to be nice about it. Employers have been known to be quite rude about service members having to take time off.

And when it comes down to it, in some cases, these men and women might have to take vacation days when they do have to go somewhere. This means that they don’t have any left for a vacation with their family. This causes all types of frustrations. While there are good employers that value and respect military service, not all of them do, and that can cause a strain on the whole family.

We get all the same military spouse benefits

There are a lot of military spouse benefits out there for those married to those who serve. However, not all are available for the National Guard or Reserve spouse. Things like the spousal preference for finding a job and MYCAA have limitations that can leave us out. That can be frustrating as you are trying to work on your own career around military life.

The National Guard Doesn't Deploy and Other Myths That Are Simply Not True

We shouldn’t miss them because they are only gone for a few weeks

Another idea we hear is that we don’t have a right to miss our spouses because they are only gone a few weeks. The reality is, missing your spouse is missing your spouse. And when you are not used to something happening, it can make it that much harder.

I have been through a 15-month deployment and AT is still really difficult for me. I like having my husband around on a daily basis, and when he is gone, I miss him terribly.

We also need to remember that since National Guard and Reserves can and do deploy bother overseas and within the US, for months at a time, National Guard spouses, as well as Reserve spouses, are missing our loved ones just like active duty does.

That we have a lot of money

Okay look, how much money a National Guard family makes depends on so many things. It depends on what the service member does for a civilian job, what the spouse does for a job, how often they deploy, and at what rank. In some cases, a deployed service member will bring in more than what they would at their civilian job, in other cases less.

That National Guard and Reserves spouses are not real military spouses

Okay, hearing that as a National Guard spouse I am not a real military spouse is frustrating. And it simply isn’t true. While our spouse’s work hours and time in uniform might look a little different, they are still very much a part of the US military. Please don’t question that, or assume we are less than. We are not.

Are you married to a member of the National Guard or the Reserves? 

PCSing This Summer? These Relocation Tips Will Help!

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Happy to have a guest post from Charlene Wilde about dealing with relocation! If you would like to guest post on Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life, please visit my Duty Station Guest Post page or make sure to send me an email for more details! 

PCSing This Summer? These Relocation Tips Will Help!

Dealing with relocation this summer? These tips can help.

As many military spouses know, the summer doesn’t just mean that kids are out of school and beaches are open for business. At this time of year permanent changes of station become more frequent and dealing with the challenges that come with relocation is a reality for many military spouses and their families.

With so much on your plate as a military spouse, the last thing you want to worry about is adjusting after a move. As someone who has moved every two years for the past 15 years (with and without children!), here are some tips and best practices to make the transition smoother.

Effectively manage your budget:

Relocation provides the perfect opportunity to assess, and possibly reset, your financial posture. At the core of this is updating your budget. If you have experienced a PCS in the past, learn from what has and hasn’t worked in managing your finances. For example, if you’re moving to a base abroad you will most likely need to purchase a car when you get there. If you move to a city with readily available and reliable public transportation, it might be time to part ways with your car and pocket some additional cash for savings.

In terms of preparing for the move financially, you may be eligible for military advance pay as support. If you use this option, the military service member would be paid an advance of basic pay not exceeding three months to cover non-reimbursable moving expenses. It’s important to remember that this is a loan that you will have to pay back and not simply free money.

Next, consider how much of your budget needs to be allotted to housing in your new city. While you will get a basic housing allowance, be sure to do your own research and determine the cost of living in the area and understand the market. Will you want to rent, or would it be more financially advantageous to buy? This is just one of the important questions you and your spouse need to discuss.

You may also not have the luxury of being able to view a new home or apartment in person. If that is the case, be sure to find a local realtor with knowledge of the military community. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people out there who may not have your best interest in mind or who lack an understanding of the needs of a military family. Use trusted, military-spouse-focused social media pages (like this one) and resources in the area to get advice from those who have gone through the process.

Tap into the military spouse community:

Remember, you are never alone in this journey! As briefly mentioned above, it is extremely important to use the contacts and resources around you to help aid in this transition. While it may seem overwhelming to meet new people, the military spouse community is extremely supportive. Be proactive and consider joining the various spouse groups on base as a way to introduce yourself in-person to a new community and meet like-minded individuals. For example, Family Readiness Groups are command-sponsored groups that allow you to learn more about the new unit and area.

We live in a world that seems to get more digital by the day, so don’t discount the value of making connections online. Spouse groups on Facebook or elsewhere can be great sources of support and vital information to help with your move. Especially as we approach the summer months when many families PCS, there will be a lot of newcomers who may share the same concerns as you.

Keep the lines of communication open:

Whether it is just you and your spouse, or you’re juggling moving the whole family cross- country, it is essential to communicate openly and honestly with the whole family about the changes that are going to take open place. While talking finances may not be the most glamorous topic, there are also other things to consider when you PCS.

If you have children, make sure to talk about the process early and often. This transition can be tough on the entire family, especially as your children switch schools and have to make new friends. Involve them at an age-appropriate level in planning your move. Sit down as a family and highlight what there is to do and see in your new home in order to build excitement. Plan your budget accordingly so that you can enjoy small trips and entertainment once you are settled in order to learn about your new home.

Preparation can make the stress of a tough move much easier on both you and your military spouse. If you stay organized and open to the support and resources provided, you can tackle a permanent change of station this summer with ease.

Charlene Wilde is a veteran and military spouse. She is the Assistant Secretary of AAFMAA, our nation’s longest standing military financial services non-profit and a contributor to Spouselink, a site that informs and connects Military Spouses.

Top Five Tips For Increasing Milk Production

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Top Five Tips For Increasing Milk Production

Top Five Tips For Increasing Milk Production

This is a sponsored post by the Breastfeeding Shop. 

Breastfeeding was something I knew I always wanted to do with my babies. However, getting started with breastfeeding wasn’t easy for me, especially with my oldest son. I had a lot of concerns about if he was getting enough of my milk. If only I could go back in time, I would have made things a little easier for myself through the process.

There are things you can do as a new mom to help increase your milk supply. This helps the breastfeeding relationship as well as making sure your baby is getting all the nutrition they need.

1. Nurse your baby often

Make sure you are nursing your baby often. Breast milk is digested quickly and the more you nurse, the more milk you will make. Feeding on-demand vs a rigid schedule is the best way to go. That way you are meeting your baby’s needs as much as you can. If your baby is going through a growth spurt, they will want to nurse even more, and that is okay too.

2. Double check your latch

Sometimes our milk supply issues are due to a bad latch. When your baby is not latching on the breast correctly, they are not getting all of the milk that they should. If you have a question about your latch, you should go and see a lactation consultant. They will be able to check on your latch or help you with other breastfeeding questions.

3. Drink water, eat healthy foods

When you are nursing you want to make sure you are drinking enough water, as well as eating a healthy diet. Doing both of those things will help your milk production if you are struggling. Keep a water bottle within reach when you are nursing or pumping and try to have a lot of healthy snacks available for you as you go about your day.

4. Use your breast pump

Pumping in between feeding sessions can help with your milk supply. While you are pumping, you will be making more milk, and that will increase how much milk you should be making. Make sure that you have taken advantage of your TRICARE benefit regarding breast pumps. You are eligible for one breast pump for every birth event. Head over to The Breastfeeding Shop to find your breast pump and start the process. They make ordering your breast pump pretty easy too.

5. Get enough rest

While this is much easier said than done, especially with a newborn, make sure you are getting as much rest as you can. Say no to unnecessary commitments while you are trying to build up your milk supply. See if you can hire a babysitter for your older kids and if your spouse is home, make sure they are helping you with everything that needs to get done. Try to sleep when you can and take the time to rest as much as possible.

Interested in more information about your TRICARE benefit breast pump and The Breastfeeding Shop? Check out these blog posts too:

The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

 

Why the Military Life Isn’t Like Any Other Life

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Why the Military Life Isn’t Like Any Other Life

The military life is a unique life. It just is. Saying it is “just like any other life” doesn’t make any sense.

Why the Military Life Isn't Like Any Other Life

I wish serving in the military was just like any other job, but it isn’t.

I wish my husband hadn’t missed my son’s birth and pretty much his entire first year. Most parents don’t have to do that, and the thought of doing so would be unbelievable. But missing a whole year of a child’s life is not uncommon in the military world.

I wish that none of my friends ever had to PCS. Saying goodbye to your good friends is the worst. While everyone does experience friends moving away, or even moving themselves, the military does so on a regular basis. This is one of the many things we experience as a military spouse.

The Military Life Isn't Like Any Other Life

I wish serving in the military was just like any other job, but it isn’t.

I wish my husband had been able to have been there during the difficult years of adapting to an autism diagnosis. That was such a difficult time for us. My son really did need two parents in the house but he only had one. I did the best that I could, but there was a big loss there, one that was felt by all of us.

I wish so many spouses were not hurting because of a military-related loss. I have friends whose husbands never came home from deployments. I have friends whose husbands came home, only to be completely different people. There are so many military families out there struggling, trying to heal from the wounds of war, whatever they might be.

I wish serving in the military was just like any other job, but it isn’t.

I wish that when war was being talked about I could just ignore it because it didn’t affect me at all. But it does. What the US does overseas affects us, military families, greatly. There is no way to turn that off. We can’t do that like others can. We can’t just ignore it. We worry about war, new wars, and wars we have been in for years.

I am not sure where the idea came from that military life is simply a job, just like any other job. While there are plenty of other difficult jobs out there, each with their own struggles, the military life is a unique life, not like any other. And that is why we have the support systems we do.

As military spouses, we simply can’t go through this life alone. We need our people. Whether our people is a group of friends, a best friend that we can always talk to, or online friends we met through a support group. We reach out because we need to find people who understand what being a military spouse is all about, or at least listen to us as we make our way through this life.

The Military Life Isn't Like Any Other Life

The military affects the whole family. In one way or another.

As a National Guard spouse, I can go for periods of time without thinking about the military. But then, I hear about summer AT dates, or possible deployments. I wash his uniform and I remember every time I had to say goodbye to him while he was wearing it. The military is always there.

When my husband was active duty, deploying over and over, the military was even more so in our lives. When they told us my husband might have to deploy, days before my due date. When he was overseas and the deployment got extended, so he would be gone for over a year.

When duty calls, they must go, and we as spouses support them as they do.

The military is very much a part of our lives, there is no way to deny that. This is a completely different experience than a spouse who works a more typical 9-5 job. The military life is its own beast, for good and for bad.

I wish serving in the military was just like any other job, but it isn’t.

How has your spouse joining the military changed your life? 

 

This Giveaway for Military Spouses is Fantastic

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Five Military Spouses Can Win a Free Event Planning Franchise!

This Giveaway for Military Spouses is Fantastic!

And I wanted to let you all know about it 🙂

Five Military Spouses Can Win a Free Event Planning Franchise!

Merritt Island, FL, April 25, 2018 – EventPrep®, Inc. is launching its inaugural OPERATION: EventPrep® $200,000 Franchise GiveAway for Military Spouses on May 1, 2018, giving five deserving active duty military spouses the opportunity to join the ranks as an EventPrep® franchise owner at no cost.

The job hunt is over for military spouses who have difficulty finding a sustainable job because of frequent Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves. Home-based event planning franchise EventPrep® is offering a unique opportunity where military spouses can begin a new career in the hospitality industry as a small business owner, providing professional event planning and management services with no territory limitations. The GiveAway ends Monday, September 14, 2018.

“Military spouses are the perfect candidates to become event planning franchise owners,” said Paul Trapp, EventPrep’s Chief Executive Officer and Service Disabled Veteran. “Owning a home-based event planning franchise such as EventPrep® affords military spouses the flexibility to start and keep a new career as they move around the world while using their personal travel experiences and connections as a foundation for growing their business.”

The 2016 Military Lifestyle Survey conducted by the nonprofit Blue Star Families, a military family engagement organization and support network, found that less than half of military families with a civilian spouse earned two incomes and that employment is one of the top issues of concern among active duty spouses.

Five Military Spouses Can Win a Free Event Planning Franchise!

The EventPrep® $200,000 Franchise GiveAway for Military Spouses is open to spouses of active military service members from any of the five branches of the U.S. military (Army, Marine Corps,
Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard). It’s easy to enter!

✓ STEP 1 – Complete Easy Entry Form at www.EventPrepFranchise.com/GiveAway by July 15, 2018.
✓ STEP 2 – Submit on-line Candidate Profile Form by July 25, 2018.
✓ STEP 3 – Top 25 candidates announced on July 31, 2018.
✓ STEP 4 –Top 25 candidates create & submit a 2 minute “Why Me” video and complete a Personality Assessment by August 17, 2018.
✓ STEP 5 – Videos from the Top 10 candidates announced and posted online on August 20, 2018.

America can vote from August 20, 2018 through September 14, 2018.

The five GRAND PRIZE WINNERS of OPERATION: EventPrep® $200,000 Franchise GiveAway for Military Spouses will be announced Monday, September 17, 2018, and each will receive a complimentary EventPrep® franchise valued at $40,000.

The new franchise “recruits” will report for active EventPrep® duty November 4-9, 2018, when they will participate in a 6-day Franchise Training Bootcamp at the EventPrep® national training facility in Northern Virginia. Grand Prize Winners will be reimbursed up to $500 for their travel and provided with complimentary accommodations during the training program. Once training is completed, winners will be armed with all the tools, skills and knowledge they need to begin their journey as a full-service event planning and management small business.

About EventPrep®, Inc.

EventPrep® is a forward-thinking full-service event planning and management company with our corporate headquarters located in Central Florida. Our reach is global and our primary focus is to save our clients, time, money & anxiety while planning unforgettable events. We view ourselves as partners with our customers, our employees, our community & our environment. We are a globally recognized brand name, capitalizing on our in-depth industry experience & leveraging our industry relationships. Our mission is moderate growth, annual profitability & maintaining our sense of humor.

EventPrep® makes the business of event planning and management streamlined, simple and efficient for the client. The EventPrep® franchise is designed to replicate our proven business model into new markets with professionals who exemplify the same motivation to serve and the willingness to go the extra mile for the client. We offer franchisees the systems, support and business model; franchisees bring the willingness to learn, execute and build.

We are a company founded by Veterans and our company philosophies, work ethic, integrity and commitment to service are derived from our time in uniform. We can’t express enough gratitude and thanks to others who have served our great country and the families that support them.

To learn more about how you can be in business for yourself, but not by yourself with an EventPrep®Franchise, visit www.EventPrepFranchise.com. Like EventPrep® on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EventPrepFranchise/ and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/eventprep-franchise-inc/ and follow EventPrep® on Twitter at @EventPrepFran.

Abbreviated Rules: OPERATION: EventPrep® $200,000 Franchise GiveAway for Military Spouses begins May 1, 2018 at 12:01 a.m. EST and ends September 14, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 or older at the start of the GiveAway, have a computer and internet connection, be a legal resident of the United States or U.S. Territories, a legal spouse of a member in good standing of one of the five branches of the U.S. military who is on active duty as of the start date of the GiveAway and through the duration of the GiveAway end date. Grand Prize Winners will be given an EventPrep® home-based franchise valued at forty thousand dollars ($40,000). Grand Prize Winners must commit to 10-year ownership of an EventPrep® franchise and attendance at a 6-day Franchisee Training Bootcamp in Northern Virginia. Grand prize winners may be subject to federal, state and local taxes – please consult a tax professional for advice. Only one (1) submission per Candidate.

To enter, complete the online entry form on our website (www.EventPrepFranchise.com/GiveAway). Submissions must comply with the Submission Guidelines in the Official Rules. Only complete, valid submissions will be accepted. Sponsored by EventPrep Franchise, Inc., 266 Via De La Reina, Merritt Island, FL 32953.

See [www.EventPrepFranchise.com/GiveAway] for Complete Official Rules.

Five Military Spouses Can Win a Free Event Planning Franchise!

OPERATION EventPrep $200,000 Franchise GiveAway For Military Spouses

Complete Official Rules

Major GiveAway Dates:
• GiveAway begins at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, May 1, 2018.
• Easy Entry Form must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time, July 15, 2018.
• Candidate Profile must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time, July 25, 2018.
• Top 25 Candidates will be notified by 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time, July 31, 2018.
• Top 25 Candidates must submit a “Why Me” video and complete a Personality Assessment by 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time, August 17, 2018.
• Top 10 Candidates will have their video submission posted online by 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time, August 20, 2018 for America to vote.
• Online voting closes and GiveAway ends at 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time, September 14, 2018.
• Top 5 Grand Prize Winners will be announced by 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time, September 17, 2018.

Qualifications: Must be 18 or older at the start of the GiveAway, have a computer and internet connection, be a legal resident of the United States or U.S. Territories, a legal spouse of a member in good standing of one of the five branches of the U.S. military who is on active duty as of 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, May 1, 2018 and throughout the duration of the GiveAway until 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time, September 17, 2018.

Submission and Notification Methods: Participants shall submit their Easy Entry Form and Candidate Profile via the OPERATION EventPrep Franchise GiveAway web portal. Top 25 Candidates shall submit a “Why Me” video via email to freefranchise@eventprep.com which includes a link to the Candidates video that has been posted on YouTube.com. Top 25 Candidates shall access the Personality Assessment via email from freefranchise@eventprep.com which includes a secure link to their individual Personality Assessment form. Confirmation receipts will be emailed to Candidates from freefranchise@eventprep.com upon receipt of the following: Easy Entry Form, Candidate Profile, “Why Me” video and Personality Assessment.

Prizes: Each Grand Prize Winner will be given one (1) EventPrep® home-based franchise valued at forty thousand dollars ($40,000). Each Grand Prize Winner will be provided an EventPrep® Franchise Disclosure Document and Franchise Agreement and allowed no less than fifteen (15) calendar days to review the documents. The documents outline proprietary details of the EventPrep® business model including a 10-year commitment to own an EventPrep® home-based franchise and attendance at a 6-day Franchisee Training Bootcamp in Northern Virginia. Each Grand Prize Winner will be reimbursed up to five hundred dollars ($500) for travel and meal expenses to attend the Franchisee Training Bootcamp November 4-9, 2018. Hotel accommodations during the Franchisee Training Bootcamp shall be provided to each Grand Prize Winner as complimentary.

Legal: Void where prohibited by law. Only one (1) submission per Candidate. Submissions must comply with the Submission Guidelines in the Official Rules. Only complete, valid submissions will be accepted. Sponsored by EventPrep Franchise, Inc., 266 Via De La Reina, Merritt Island, FL 32953. Grand prize winners may be subject to federal, state and local taxes – please consult a tax professional for advice.

 

Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

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Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

Have you heard of the restaurant, Mission BBQ? We just got one here in the Fort Campbell area last year and I was excited to try their yummy food. I have heard such good things about them over the years. As I walked in the first thing I noticed was their decor. On the wall was everything you can imagine honoring the military as well as others who serve their community.

Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and enjoyed my meal immensely.

Mission BBQ first opened on September 11, 2011, by two friends who were passionate about BBQ, being patriotic, and running a business with meaning and purpose.

This from their, “Our Story” section of their website says it all:

“We believe there is nothing more American than BBQ. And nobody more American than the brave men and women who have sworn to protect and serve Our Communities and Our Country. We do what we do for the love of our soldiers, firefighters, police officers, first responders—all our loved ones in service.”

Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

 

When you go to a Mission BBQ, you can have a good meal, in a patriotic dining room. If you happen to be there at noon, you can be apart of the daily salute to our country as everyone stops to sing the National Anthem.

There are quite a few choices of what to eat when you go to Mission BBQ. You can enjoy brisket, pulled pork, turkey, pulled chicken, sausage, sides, and more. They even have a kid’s menu for the younger ones.

Mission BBQ and Giving Back to the Military Community

 

 

You can also get food delivered to parties of five or more and can find Mission BBQ in 13 states at the moment.

Mission BBQ is also known for giving back to their communities which is such a nice thing to hear these days. They have military appreciation nights where all the sales from the night are donated to a variety of organizations. These have been organizations such as the USO, the Navy Seal Foundation, and Wreaths Across America.

They truly give back to the military community!

Have you ever been to a Mission BBQ? You can search for one near you and plan to visit as soon as you can 🙂

 

The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

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The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

If you don’t already know, you can receive a no cost breast pump through your TRICARE benefit. Any military woman service member or spouse can receive one for each birth event she has. This is a fantastic benefit that makes sure that all of these moms have access to a breast pump to help them with feeding their baby.

The Easy Way To Order Your No Cost Breast Pump

This is a sponsored post by The Breastfeeding Shop!

The Breastfeeding Shop is a company that you can work with to receive your breast pump, and they make ordering your breast pump super easy. They have a new order form and I wanted to walk you through the steps you have to take in order to place your order.

You can do so on their website or on the app. If you don’t want to fill out the order form you can also call them to place your order.

Here is a video of me filling out the order form. As you can see all the information is laid out well and I was able to complete the form in about five minutes.

Here is what you will be asked about:

1. Insurance provider

Find TRICARE or TRICARE Overseas.

2. Select your breast pump

You have a lot of options on what breast pump to pick. Make sure to read Which Breast Pump Is Best For You? You can also talk to friends about breast pumps they have used and loved. If you don’t see what you want, pick “other” and call 866-255-6779.

3. Name, phone number, email, and address

Please put your current information here.

4. Your birthday

They want to know your date of birth.

5. Due Date of your baby

This is your baby’s due date. If your baby is already born, make sure to put their birth date there.

6. Insurance number

This would be your service member’s social security number, or your own if you are the service member.

7. Seconardy insurance

If you happen to have secondary insurance.

8. Physician’s name

Your doctor’s name.

9. Physician’s phone number

Your doctor’s phone number.

10. How you will submit your prescription

There are a few different ways you can submit your prescription to The Breastfeeding Shop. You can upload it, email it, fax it, or have them contact the doctor for you. If you choose for them to do that, know that it will take longer for you to receive your breast pump.

11. Important info

You will check if you agree here.

12. Privacy notice, etc

You just need to acknowledge that you have received this information.

13. Signature

You can use your mouse or your finger to sign.

14. Comments

If you need to leave any comments.

You can also read more about this amazing TRICARE benefit and what you need to know in order to receive yours:

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby